South Korea requested to procure an additional 36 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mechanism, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 19 August.
The DSCA added that the deal is worth an estimated US$3.5 billion and has been approved by the State Department.
In addition to the helicopters, South Korea has also requested for up to 76 GE Aerospace T700-GE-701D engines inclusive of four spares, AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors (M-TADS/PNVS) and AN/APG-78 Longbow Fire Control Radars (FCR) with Mast Mounted Assembly (MMA), as well as AN/APG-78 FCRs with Radar Electronic Units (REU) among a long list of aircraft avionics and weapons systems.
“The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Korea’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force capable of deterring adversaries and participating in regional operations,” said the DSCA, noting that the country will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
Earlier in March 2021, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) revealed its plans to acquire more new attack helicopters for the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) under the second phase of its ongoing helicopter recapitalisation programme.
DAPA said at the time that up to 36 attack helicopters worth around US$2.8 billion are being sought via a competitive bidding process to replace the RoKA’s Bell AH-1S attack helicopters by 2028. The new helicopters will add to the service’s current fleet of 36 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardians acquired for US$1.6 billion under the first phase of the programme.
The helicopters that were understood to be evaluated were Boeing’s AH-64E (V6) variant of the Apache, the maritime-optimised Bell AH-1Z Viper, and the Turkish Aerospace Industries T-129 ATAK.
by Jr Ng
