South Korea has set aside $2.81 billion (3.17 trillion won) to go ahead with its plans to import 36 new combat helicopters for the military by 2028.
The helicopter procurement has been approved by the defense project promotion committee presided over by Defense Minister Suh Wook, Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a statement.
“We will begin procedures to select the exact type of this asset and a company to purchase attack choppers. The budget has increased due to inflation and the necessary addition of some equipment and facilities. This second batch project is to enhance our ground forces’ operations of offensive maneuvers,” a DAPA official was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.
Seoul purchased 36 Boeing AH-64E Apache rotorcraft for $1.6 billion in 2013 under the first round of the project. They replaced old Bell AH-1S helicopters.