Korean Military Helicopters

The Defense Project Promotion Committee of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration approved a plan in mid-September 2026 to acquire 20 additional Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters for about 3.24 trillion won (~$2.4 billion), with deliveries running through 2032. The aircraft will replace the aging Lynx helicopters that operate from Republic of Korea Navy destroyers and frigates, and bring better detection of submarines and surface ships. The purchase is an import through the US government rather than a Korean export, and follows US State Department approval earlier in 2026 of a possible sale of up to 24 MH-60R helicopters to South Korea.

The U.S. State Department approved two Foreign Military Sales packages for South Korea totaling $4.2 billion: 24 MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopters (~$3B) from Lockheed Martin and an AH-64E Apache upgrade program (~$1.2B) including 8 AN/APG-78 fire-control radars. The packages require Congressional approval and represent the largest single U.S. arms sale to South Korea in recent years.

The US State Department approved two Foreign Military Sales packages totaling $4.2 billion for South Korea: 24 MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopters ($3B) to triple the ROK Navy's anti-submarine helicopter fleet from 12 to 36 units, and a $1.2B modernization package for the ROK Army's AH-64E Apache attack helicopter fleet. Both deals require congressional approval before finalization.