a
World Air Force News - South Korea
 
 
South Korea will buy 36 AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters from Boeing.
 
South Korea has chosen Boeing's AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters for $1.6 billion amid tensions with North Korea, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration said. The fleet of 36 new advanced attack helicopters will play a crucial role in countering North Korean amphibious infiltrations into western border islands should they occur, a report by The Korea Herald newspaper said.
     
South Korea has chosen Boeing's AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters for $1.6 billion amid tensions with North Korea, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration said. The fleet of 36 new advanced attack helicopters will play a crucial role in countering North Korean amphibious infiltrations into western border islands should they occur, a report by The Korea Herald newspaper said.
Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter
     

Boeing's four-blade twin-engine Apache beat Bell's AH-1Z and the Turkish Aerospace Industries T-129, a joint development with AgustaWestland as the primary partner and based on its A129 Mangusta.

"We can beef up our military strength that might be weakening due to (our) aging helicopters," the DAPA (Defense Acquisition Program Administration) said in a statement.

"This new helicopter fleet will help handle the threat posed by North Korea's mechanized forces and possible provocations such as maritime infiltrations."

Sustainment cost for the army's Apaches -- to be deployed from 2016-18 -- is expected to be higher than for the 500MD, made by Hughes Helicopters and McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems, and Bell's Cobra AH-1S attack helicopters South Korea operates, the DAPA added.