On Oct 18., it was reported that South Korea’s military authorities are reconsidering their plan to purchase 36 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the U.S., a deal valued at 4.7 trillion won (approximately $3.43 billion). This review comes amid growing concerns over the vulnerability of attack helicopters, increasingly downed by drones and portable missile systems in the Ukraine war, which has sparked debate over the potential “obsolescence” of helicopters.
In response to evolving warfare tactics, the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) is also considering replacing traditional weapons like the 81mm mortar with drones. According to a military source, “The Ministry of National Defense, ROKA, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration have begun a comprehensive review of the Apache helicopter acquisition plan, including the possibility of reducing the number of units.” Military and defense officials are reassessing the role of attack helicopters as unmanned systems like drones gain prominence. The source added, “There is already a sentiment within the Army that it may not acquire all 36 units due to these concerns,” and hinted that the entire purchase plan could be scrapped, depending on the outcome of ongoing discussions.
The Boeing AH-64 Apache, known as a “tank killer” and widely regarded as the most powerful attack helicopter globally, was introduced to South Korea’s military in 2017, with 36 units already deployed. Plans had called for the purchase of an additional 36, but the Ukraine War has led to a shift in perspective after drones and portable missile systems shot down numerous Russian helicopters. This has prompted debate about whether allocating 70% of ROKA’s defense improvement budget (roughly 6.5 trillion won or $4.75 billion) to Apache helicopters is still a wise investment. Additionally, the rising cost of the Apache helicopters is influencing the review. When the first batch was introduced, each unit cost 44.1 billion won, but the price for the second batch has surged to 73.3 billion won, with expectations that it could increase further.
