The US State Department has approved the potential sale of CH-47F helicopters and related equipment to the Republic of Korea (ROK) for an estimated cost of US$1.5 billion (A$2.24 billion).
The ROK requested to buy 18 CH-47F helicopters; 42 T55-GA- 714A engines (36 installed, 6 spares); 22 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (18 installed, 4 spares); and 44 secure radios, RT-1987 (36 installed, 8 spares).
Also included in the potential sale are AN/APR-39 Radar Warning Systems; AN/ARC-220 HF Airborne Communications Systems; AN/APX-123A IFF transponders; AN/ARN-147; AN/ARN-153; AN/APN-209; secure radios; US Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; repair and return; storage; and other related elements of logistical and program support.
"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia- Pacific region," the US Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) said in a release announcing the possible sale.
"The proposed sale will improve the ROK’s capability to meet current and future threats by strengthening its Army heavy lift capability," the DSCA continued. "The CH-47F will allow the ROK to conduct missions in support of bilateral operational plans which include, but are not limited to, medical evacuation, search and rescue, parachute drops, and disaster relief. The ROK will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces."
The principal contractor will be Boeing.
The Republic of Korea Army currently operates 32 CH-47D/CH-47SD Chinooks, in service with the 6th Aviation Group (Lift). The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) also operates five ex-US Army CH-47Ds and five HH-47Ds, flying with the 231st Combat Search & Rescue Squadron (CSRS) at Cheonju.