South Korea announced that they are temporarily suspending the US$7.3 fighter jet bidding initiated by the South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

DAPA received 55 separate price bids since the opening of tenders to build fighter jets for South Korea.

Boeing Co's F-15SE, Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35A and EADS's Eurofighter Typhoon are the top contenders to win the fighter jet deal.

A DAPA official, who declined to be identified, commented, "There is a need to carefully check the bids placed so far before making a decision to move forward."

The DAPA official also said that the agency will decide soon whether to carry out additional bids for the project of to stop the bidding altogether.

The Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday that the suspension for the fighter jet project was due to the high-priced offers from three aviation manufacturers.