US approves $4.2 billion sale of helicopters and upgrades to South Korea
Kyiv • UNN
The US State Department has approved the sale of 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and AH-64E Apache upgrades to Seoul. The total value of the deal is $4.2 billion.
The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of helicopters and related equipment to South Korea for up to $4.2 billion, according to announcements on Monday. This was reported by Bloomberg, according to UNN.
Details
Seoul plans to acquire 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp.'s Sikorsky unit, along with navigation, sonar, and other equipment. The total cost is up to $3 billion. According to the manufacturer, these aircraft provide the navy with anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities.
In a separate case, South Korea requested the purchase of upgrades for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters worth up to $1.2 billion. The potential deal, for which Boeing Co. is the prime contractor, includes eight AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radars, which are jointly produced by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Corp.
The State Department stated that these purchases will strengthen the security of a key ally in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the department, the acquisition of equipment and modernization systems will enhance South Korea's ability to respond to "current and future threats" and provide the country with a reliable deterrent capability.
The State Department's approval, which must still undergo congressional review, reflects the maximum volumes and value of the potential deal.