South Korea yesterday selected Boeing’s [BA] AH-64E Apache for its potential $1.6 billion attack helicopter program over the AH-1Z Cobra offering from Textron [TXT] and a Turkish Aerospace Industry and Finmeccanica’s AgustaWestland team pitching a T-129B.
“Boeing is pleased with the announcement that the Republic of Korea has selected the AH-64E Apache as its new heavy-attack helicopter,” the company said in a statement. “We look forward to working with the U.S. Army and the Republic of Korea Army as they finalize the Foreign Military Sales contract for 36 AH-64E Apaches.”
Col. Jeff Hager, project Manager Apache, said, “The Army is proud to support our nation’s security assistance mssion and provide our allies with the capabilities they need in defense of their nation. This is also a testament to the capabilities of the AH-64 Apache as the world’s most lethal rotary wing aircraft.”
With the Boeing selection, now the U.S. and South Korean government representatives must work out the fine details for a contract, which would be likely to come by the end of the year.
This is just one of several international opportunities for the latest variant AH-64E attack helicopter, which has raised serious interest from Indonesia, Qatar and India.
In Sept. 25, 2012, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a two potential Foreign Military Sales (FMS) helicopter sales requested by South Korea. Filing with Congress the same day, the notifications showed U.S. government support for both requests.
One FMS request was from South Korea for 36 AH-64E attack helicopters, associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated $3.6 billion (Defense Daily, Sept. 26, 2012).
DSCA said South Korea “intends to use new attack helicopters to more effectively secure its borders and littoral waters, as well as conduct counter-terrorism/counter-piracy operations. The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Korea Army’s close air support, air interdiction, armed reconnaissance, strike coordination/reconnaissance, forward air control (airborne), and aerial escort capabilities while enhancing interoperability with U.S. forces.”
The notification said other contractors could include Lockheed Martin [LMT], General Electric [GE] and Longbow Limited Liability Corp. –a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman [NOC].
DSCA also said the potential sale would require U.S. government, contractor and field service representatives for post-production support.
The second DSCA congressional notification was for a potential sale to South Korea for 36 AH-1Z COBRA attack helicopters with parts, logistics and logistics for an estimated $2.6 billion. Bell Helicopter, a division of Textron, and General Electric would be the prime contractors.