The US State Department has approved the sale of up to 36 AH-64E Apache helicopters, plus logistics and support, to South Korea worth $3.5 billion.

“The State Department has given its approval for a possible sale of AH-64E Apache helicopters and related logistics and program support elements to the Republic of Korea at an estimated cost of $3.5 billion,” the U.S. Defense and Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement, News.Az reports.

According to the statement, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSA) has already issued the necessary certification to notify Congress of this possible sale.

South Korea would also purchase up to 76 GE T700 engines, two in each helicopter, plus four more spares. And each helicopter would receive its own modernized AN/ASQ-170 target acquisition and designation sight.
In addition to the helicopters, South Korea also wants to buy hundreds of missiles to arm these helicopters, including 456 Hellfire missiles, six captive-air training missiles and 152 joint air-to-ground missiles.

The main suppliers for the planned sale to South Korea are Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

South Korea had already purchased 36 AH-64E Apaches in 2013 and completed the order in early 2017.

News.Az