South Korea has received authorisation from the US Department of State to acquire up to 36 Boeing AH-64E APACHE helicopters.

The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) authorisation opens to negotiate and conclude an agreement that includes material up to the maximum authorised quantities, and it is worth USD 3.5 billion in this case.

Specifically, the package, complete with equipment, services, and logistical support, includes 36 combat helicopters, the acquisition of 76 GE Aerospace T700-GE-701D engines - 2 installed on each helicopter plus a further 4 spares - , 36 Lockheed Martin AN/ASQ-170 radars for target acquisition and designation, as well as related weapon systems, including 456 AGM-114R2 (N) HELLFIRE counter/air-sup missiles, 6 Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs) and 152 AGM-179A JAGM air-sup missiles.

Seoul had previously purchased 36 AH-64E APACHEs in 2013, an order that was completed in 2017. The machines are in service with the South Korean Army.

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