US approves Chinook sale to South Korea
South Korea’s military needs to replace older Chinook helicopters, and the solution is 18 new CH-47Fs from Boeing. (Photo: Gordon Arthur)
South Korea’s army and air force are ploughing ahead with plans to modernise its heavy-lift helicopter fleet.
The US State Department has approved the Foreign Military Sale of 18 CH-47F Chinook helicopters to South Korea, it was announced on 6 December.
The proposed package is worth $1.5 billion, and it follows South Korea’s endorsement on 15 July of a plan to replace in-service Chinooks with new ones under the Heavy-lift Helicopter-II programme.
At that time, South Korea anticipated that the future purchase would cost KRW1.4 trillion ($1.06 billion).
As well as the helicopters, the proposed package includes six extra T55-GA-714A engines, 22 Common Missile Warning Systems and forty-four RT-1987 secure radios.
The US government said the new helicopters
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![Saab’s GlobalEye gains ground as Canada’s aircraft procurement tilts towards Europe]()
Saab’s GlobalEye gains ground as Canada’s aircraft procurement tilts towards Europe
Canada’s interest in negotiating a procurement of Saab’s GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft signals its readiness to reduce its reliance on US defence technology as trade tensions with its North American neighbour mount.
-
![South American EW demand balances capability against cost]()
South American EW demand balances capability against cost
South American air forces are weighing advanced electronic warfare capabilities against limited budgets as Peru selects Viper Shield and BAE Systems targets smaller airborne platforms.
-
![Will the US Navy F/A-XX and the USAF F-47 compete for production capacities?]()
Will the US Navy F/A-XX and the USAF F-47 compete for production capacities?
The two sixth-generation fighter programmes could battle for engineering talent and production lines before deliveries begin, testing Boeing’s industrial expansion plans.
