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South Korea could be planning to dump procurement of 36 Apache attack helicopters under budgetary constraints, according to local media reports.
The second phase of Korea’s heavy attack helicopter acquisition program funding has reportedly been almost entirely cut under a second supplementary budget passed by the South Korean National Assembly on 4 July, according to The Korea Times.
Procurement of the helicopters had previously been approved at a Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting in May, amid a review of manned-unmanned teaming technology and cost-efficiency of unmanned aerial vehicles.
“The unit cost rose sharply from 44.1 billion won in the first phase to 77.3 billion won in the second,” according to comments from People Power Party representative Yu Yong-weon, reported by Korean-language newspaper, The Chosun Daily.
“Given that the US Army itself is moving toward advanced drone-based capabilities such as the Gray Eagle, a comprehensive re-examination of South Korea’s plan to expand its Apache fleet is a welcome development
“This procurement was based on the ‘new operational concept’ introduced under the Moon Jae-in administration’s Defense Reform 2.0 initiative.
“I raised concerns during last year’s National Assembly audit that the program was continuing despite the cancellation of that operational framework.”
The country has already procured 36 AH-64 helicopters for service.
