S.Korean bid for US$3.5B Apache deal approved

SOUTH Korea’s request to purchase as many as 36 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and accompanying equipment has been approved by the United States’ Department of State.

In an announcement made by the Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the potential government-to-government Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 36, AH-64E helicopters, 76 T700-GE-701D engines, 456 AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles, 152 AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground (JAGM) missiles, 6 Captive Air Training Missiles and 40 AAR-57 common missile warning systems and other related equipment valued at an estimated US$3.5 billion was approved.

A DSCA statement read,”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.” The primary contractors of the potential sale are Boeing and Lockheed Martin while the sale awaits final approval from the US Congress.

The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) currently operates 36 AH-64Es.-shp/adj/dl (Pix:ROKA)