By Tune Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, Could 18 (Yonhap) — America has licensed a possible sale to South Korea of MH-60R multi-mission naval helicopters and an AH-64E Apache chopper improve program, the State Division stated Monday, noting the proposed sale will assist improve the Asian ally’s protection capabilities.
The division introduced its choices on the potential government-to-government International Army Sale (FMS) estimated to price US$3 billion for the MH-60R helicopter mission and $1.2 billion for the Apache improve program.
South Korea has made a request to purchase 24 MH-60R helicopters, 24 airborne low-frequency sonars and eight M240D 7.62 mm machine weapons, amongst different gadgets that had been included within the helicopter acquisition bundle, in line with the division.
The MH-60R is a naval helicopter used for anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance operations and floor warfare, in addition to search and rescue missions.
For the Apache improve, Seoul has requested to purchase eight AN/APG-78 fireplace management radars (FCR), eight Longbow FCR radar digital items, and 40 AN/ARC-231A very excessive frequency/extremely excessive frequency radios, amongst different gadgets within the bundle.
“The proposed sale will enhance the Republic of Korea’s functionality to fulfill present and future threats by strengthening its Navy’s multi-mission helicopter functionality and by offering a reputable pressure that’s able to deterring adversaries,” the division stated in a launch on the MH-60R helicopter buy plan.
South Korea’s request to amass the helicopters and improve the Apache helicopters comes as North Korea has been doubling down on its nuclear and missile threats, together with these from its growth of submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
The proposed sale requires congressional endorsement.
This picture, taken on April 1, 2026, reveals MH-60R helicopters on show at a naval base in Changwon, 298 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
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