South Korea Cancels Apache Helicopter Acquisition, Focuses On Drones And AI

AH-64 Apache helicopter at Kunsan Air Base South Korea. (Wikimedia Commons/US Air Force/Senior Airman Steven R. Doty)

South Korea has canceled its plan to acquire 36 additional AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, shifting its defense priorities to unmanned systems and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in response to trends that continue to develop in modern warfare.

The second phase of South Korea's heavy attack helicopter acquisition program, which originally targeted the acquisition of US-made AH-64E Apache helicopters by 2028 with a projected cost of more than 3 trillion won, or 2.2 billion US dollars, was effectively canceled after nearly all of its funding was abolished in an additional budget approved last Friday.

South Korean House of Representatives member Yu Yong-weon of the People's Power Party said 97 billion won of the 100 billion allocated had initially been cut, with the remaining 3 billion allocated back.

Yu welcomed the decision, citing the increasing helicopter vulnerability to the low-cost missile and drone attacks vulnerabilities highlighted by the latest developments on the battlefield in Ukraine.

"Reconsideration of Apache procurement is a positive step," he said, as reported by The Korea Times on July 10.

"We need to invest in drones and other advanced systems," he said.

The purchase of Apache was originally approved based on previous government offensive operational strategies. However, defense officials noted that the price of helicopters in the US had jumped by 66 percent compared to the first phase agreement a decade ago, raising questions about cost effectiveness.

The Ginseng State military leader decided in May to reconsider the program, selecting manned and autonomous hybrid systems.

Analysts say the disappearance of many Russian helicopters due to missiles fired from shoulders in Ukraine is a warning signal. Meanwhile, the US Army has canceled its next-generation attack helicopter project, with similar reviews underway in Japan and Australia.

"Drones and smart systems are redefining modern battlefields," said Yu.

"Instead of relying on expensive old platforms, we have to invest in capabilities that reflect the future of war," he concluded.