SEOUL, August 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s military is moving to acquire a new fleet of heavy-lift helicopters for its special operations forces, but rising costs for American defense systems, exacerbated by tariffs, are emerging as a major challenge.
According to defense industry sources, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) initiated a foreign military purchase program on June 25. The project aims to procure new large transport helicopters for both the Army and Air Force.
Companies have been invited to submit bids by the end of August, after which a proposal review and performance evaluation will be conducted. A final selection is expected by the close of the year.
The program, which runs from 2026 to 2033, has a total budget of $2.355 billion, or about 3.29 trillion won. The Defense Project Promotion Committee approved the basic acquisition strategy in April 2024.
While South Korea has developed the Surion utility helicopter domestically, it lacks the necessary engine and rotor blade technologies for a heavy-lift platform.
Domestic development was deemed too time-consuming, prompting the military to opt for a foreign acquisition.
However, the significant increase in prices for U.S. defense systems has raised alarm.
The F-35 fighter jet provides a stark example. The aircraft sources components from more than 1,900 suppliers across about a dozen countries. Denmark alone supplies more than 80 parts, many of which are now subject to tariffs.
Industry analysts warn that the cumulative effect of component-level tariffs and disruptions in the global supply chain has created unpredictable price volatility. If the final costs for the new helicopters exceed initial estimates, South Korea may be forced to scale back its planned procurement quantity.
Two American manufacturers are seen as the leading contenders for the contract: Boeing, with its CH-47F, and Lockheed Martin, with the CH-53K.
Boeing is expected to offer the CH-47F Block II, an upgraded variant currently being fielded by the U.S. Army.
The helicopter boasts extended range and increased lift capacity. Germany has already committed to purchasing 60 units, and Poland is also considering the model. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom already operate earlier versions of the CH-47F.
Lockheed Martin is likely to propose the CH-53K, which is in service with the U.S. Marine Corps. Israel signed a deal in 2022 for 12 of the aircraft in a contract valued at $2.4 billion, or about 3.3 trillion won, with deliveries pending. In 2023, the U.S. Navy awarded a contract for 35 additional helicopters for the Marines, part of a broader plan to acquire about 200 of the aircraft.
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