S.Korea to Develop Electronic Warfare Aircraft, Buy Heavy Helicopters

South Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) is planning to domestically develop an electronic warfare aircraft and buy heavy helicopters for special operations.

The Defense Project Promotion Committee approved a $1.41 billion (1.85 trillion-won) plan to create electronic warfare aircraft from 2024-2032.

The committee also gave the green light to a $2.8 billion (3.7 trillion-won) plan to buy heavy-lift special operations choppers from overseas from 2024-31. These aircraft will replace aging special operations choppers and search-and-rescue helicopters used by the Army and the Air Force, respectively.

The choppers that meet the military's requirement includes Boeing’s CH-47F and Lockheed Martin's CH-53K.

The committee also approved a plan worth $468 million (610 billion won) to develop a ship-to-ground ballistic missile through local research from next year to 2036. The missile is expected to deter potential enemy threats and allow for early response against nuclear and ballistic missile threats from North Korea, DAPA said.

It also endorsed a basic five-year plan for the development of the arms industry, outlining its general policy directions and tasks through 2027.