The US Department of State has approved a $3.5 billion sale of Apache helicopters to South Korea.
According to Defense News on the 19th, the State Department announced the approval of a deal to sell up to 36 AH-64E Apache helicopters and logistics and support equipment to South Korea for $3.5 billion.
According to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the South Korean government plans to purchase 72 GE T700 engines (two per helicopter) and four spare engines. The purchase list includes 456 Hellfire missiles, six captive air training missiles, and 152 Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGMs).
This deal was approved under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, which requires foreign governments to contract with the US government and receive congressional approval.
In a statement, the DSCA said, “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region,” adding that South Korea is capable of absorbing the equipment into its military without difficulties.
South Korea’s Army previously purchased 36 of the same Apache helicopters in 2013 and deployed them in operations starting in early 2017.
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