South Korea today announced it plans to buy 36 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters worth $1.6 billion.
The twin-engine, four-bladed, two-pilot helicopters are designed to thwart possible attacks from North Korea. The Apache had competed with the Bell AH-1Z and the Turkish Aerospace Industries T-129 for the contract.
The Korean government had been studying the helicopter acquisition long before the current round of threats from the North Korean government.
“Apache’s engine capability and weapons load, as well as the improved capability of target acquisition were given high ratings,” Korean officials told news media.
The helicopters will be built in a …