South Korea’s plan to procure 36 additional AH-64 Apache attack helicopters appears increasingly likely to be scrapped.
According to Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and the Ministry of National Defense on July 6, the second supplementary budget passed by the National Assembly on July 4 slashed funding for the second-phase heavy attack helicopter acquisition program from 10 billion won ($7.3 million) to just 300 million won. The original allocation had been designated as an initial payment toward a contract for 36 Apaches, each costing more than 77 billion won.
The second-phase procurement was previously approved at a Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting in May, contingent on the review of alternative platforms such as manned-unmanned teaming systems. With the latest round of cuts in the supplementary budget, the likelihood of the project being canceled has significantly increased. The shift comes amid growing skepticism over the battlefield utility of heavy attack helicopters, following reports from the Russia–Ukraine war that such assets have been vulnerable to drone strikes. Critics also point to the superior cost-efficiency of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in performing the same role traditionally assigned to so-called “tank killers.”
“The unit cost rose sharply from 44.1 billion won in the first phase to 77.3 billion won in the second,” Rep. Yoo said. “Given that the U.S. Army itself is moving toward advanced drone-based capabilities such as the Gray Eagle, a comprehensive reexamination of South Korea’s plan to expand its Apache fleet is a welcome development.”
He added, “This procurement was based on the ‘new operational concept’ introduced under the Moon Jae-in administration’s Defense Reform 2.0 initiative. I raised concerns during last year’s National Assembly audit that the program was continuing despite the cancellation of that operational framework.”
Still, some observers note the possibility of the project being revived in light of ongoing pressure from Washington. With U.S. President Donald Trump continuing to push for increased defense spending by allies and bipartisan voices in the U.S. capital calling for South Korea to play a greater role in countering China, further discussion around the Apache acquisition could resurface.
