On August 19, the U.S. government approved the potential sale of new AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to South Korea, which already operates a fleet of 36 units with the South Korean Army Aviation. This was communicated to the U.S. Congress by the Department of State for approval, detailing that the deal would require an investment of $3.5 billion for a total of 36 helicopters.
According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), South Korea’s request includes a wide range of armament, spare parts, and additional materials for the new aircraft. Key items in the extensive list include: 76 T700-GE-701D engines, 36 upgraded AN/ASQ-170 sights, 456 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, and 152 AGM-179 JAGM missiles. The package will also include the necessary logistical and technical support for the proper functioning of the equipment, such as transportation and training materials for the crews, among other aspects.
The DSCA stated: “This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the security of a key ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region. The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Korea’s ability to address current and future threats by providing a credible force capable of deterring adversaries and participating in regional operations. South Korea will have no difficulty integrating this equipment into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
Regarding the main contractors involved in this potential sale, the primary companies are expected to be the U.S. firms Boeing and Lockheed Martin, based in Arizona and Florida, respectively. Given that South Korea often seeks offsets, it is likely that both companies will need to negotiate an agreement with the Asian country to finalize the deal.
It is worth noting that South Korea already has a locally produced attack helicopter program, the KAI LAH. This design, developed in collaboration with the European consortium Airbus (based on the Eurocopter EC155), currently has serial production contracts, including an initial one for $236 million announced at the end of 2022, and a second one for $1.8 billion signed in December 2023. In terms of delivery dates, the South Korean Army is expected to receive the first helicopters from the 2022 contract within this year, with the second batch arriving next year.
The KAI LAH helicopters are intended to complement the operational capabilities of the AH-64E Apache, mainly for reconnaissance, surveillance, and close air support missions—tasks previously performed by the older 500MD TOW and AH-1S Cobra models. To fulfill its role, the new helicopters are equipped with a 20mm M197 automatic cannon and the capability to fire a wide range of air-to-ground missiles and rockets. Additionally, both the Target Acquisition and Designation Sight (TADS) and the Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD) systems are integrated directly into the weapon system, facilitating the pilot’s use of the aircraft.
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