Seoul approves plan to purchase new Chinooks
South Korea’s military needs to replace older Chinook helicopters like this CH-47D, and the solution will be new CH-47Fs from Boeing. (Photo: Gordon Arthur)
South Korea has given a green light to buy new Chinooks, while KAI prepares to start series production of the LAH and researches a new high-speed helicopter design.
On 15 July, the Defense Project Promotion Committee in South Korea endorsed a plan to procure new Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters to replace older Chinooks already in service.
The future purchase, anticipated to cost KRW1.4 trillion ($1.06 billion), will fall under the Heavy-lift Helicopter-II programme.
Once an order is eventually lodged, the new CH-47Fs are expected to be delivered by 2028. South Korean defence officials mentioned no numbers, but Shephard previously reported that up to 22 CH-47Fs are required.
Of these, ten could be MH-47 special operations variants.
The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) already operates a fleet of 43
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