US Approves Sale of 24 Multi-Purpose Helicopters to South Korea

Total Value of Upgrades and Equipment Reaches 6 Trillion Won

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to sell military equipment worth $4.2 billion (approximately 6.26 trillion won) to South Korea, including multi-purpose helicopters and the Apache upgrade program.

Yonhap News

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs announced on the 18th (local time) that it has approved the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) requested by the South Korean government for 24 MH-60R multi-purpose helicopters, as well as related weapons and equipment. The estimated cost of the sale is $3 billion, according to the State Department.

The State Department explained that this sale “will enhance the Republic of Korea Navy’s multi-mission helicopter capabilities and provide a reliable force to deter adversaries, thereby improving its ability to respond to current and future threats.” The Department also stated that it has approved an FMS for the $1.2 billion AH-64E Apache upgrade program, explaining that this sale “will strengthen the Republic of Korea Army’s medium attack helicopter capabilities.”

The State Department said that this military equipment sale to South Korea “will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening the security of a key ally that is a vital force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region.” It also explained that the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region” and “will have no adverse impact on the U.S. defense posture.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.