U.S. Approves South Korea’s Request to buy 4 Early Warning Aircraft Worth 4.92 Billion

The United States has approved  a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea of E-7 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW & C) Aircraft for  an estimated cost of $4.92 billion.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on Monday.

The sale approval comes at time of heightened tension with North Korea which test-launched a 1500 km missile last week which can reach U.S. and allied military targets in the Asia-pacific region.

"This proposed sale will improve the Republic of Korea's ability to meet current and future threats by providing increased intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and airborne early warning and control capabilities," the agency said in a release.

"It will also increase the ROK Air Force's command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) interoperability with the United States. Korea will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and support into its armed forces," it added.

The E-7 AEW & C aircraft can help track missiles and aircraft from North Korea and China over vast tracks of ocean.