South Korea will protect its destroyers and frigates with American anti-submarine helicopters. Yesterday, December 17, the portal defensenews.com reported that the Administration of Defense Procurement Programs (DAPA, Defense Acquisition Program Administration) announced the selection of Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
The contract worth $878 million is scheduled to be signed before the end of the year. As part of the upcoming deal, the South Korean Navy will receive 12 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, weapons, sonar devices, radars and communication systems. In addition, this amount includes training, technical and logistical support.
Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters
Image Source: defensenews.com
Delivery of new helicopters is planned until 2025. The MH-60R Seahawk will be based on destroyers under construction under the KDX-III Batch 2 program, as well as FFX Batch III frigates.
Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters are an anti-submarine modification of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter entered service with the US Army in 1979, replacing the Bell UH-1. It is known that today the US army is armed with about 2,500 UH-60 helicopters in various modifications, in addition, the Black Hawk is exported and produced under license in other countries. The helicopter can accommodate up to 14 people (including three crew members) and can carry small arms, missile, torpedo and bomb weapons, as well as reconnaissance modules.
