ID :
19432
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 07:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/19432
The shortlink copeid
U.S. offers to sell 36 Apache helicopters at 60 percent of tag price
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- The United States has offered to sell 36 used Apache attack helicopters to South Korea at less than 60 percent of the out-of-factory price, with upgrades to replace most of their critical parts, including the frame and engine, sources said Sunday.
The before-sale upgrades, often referred to as Block III, will essentially render the second-hand aircraft looking and performing as brand new, a source close to the envisioned deal said, asking to remain unidentified.
"When the aircraft is disassembled for the Block III upgrade, it will get a
new frame that will practically reset its age to zero," the source said.
An official at the aircraft's U.S. manufacturer, Boeing, said the upgrade will
also include new engines. The official, also asking not to be identified, said a
new frame has a life span of 10,000 hours.
The deal, if signed, is expected to be worth some 900 billion won (US$811
million), or over 3 percent of the country's entire defense budget of 26 trillion
won for this year.
South Korean officials acknowledged the offer provides a rare opportunity to
purchase AH-64D Apaches, which they said are "armed to the teeth" with
up to 16 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, a 30-mm nose-mounted M230 chain gun and
70-mm unguided rockets.
But they said the large overall size of the purchase is preventing a quick decision.
"A purchase will provide a quick solution to our aging UH-1H and 500MD
helicopters, but the amount of money involved requires thorough
deliberation," an official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to
the sensitivity of the issue.
Seoul is also seeking to develop its own attack helicopters in a project
estimated to cost between 5 trillion won to 10 trillion won, while its ongoing
program to develop an indigenous utility helicopter is expected to produce its
first prototype next year with a scheduled mass production start date of 2012.
"Because the Army's aging helicopters are mostly used for combat (attack)
maneuvers we need to either purchase or develop equipment that can replace those
aging assets, or do both," an official said.
The South Korean government is expected to make a decision before the end of the
year, he added.
The South Korean Army currently operates about 120 UH-1H utility helicopters, 55
percent of which are aged 30 years or more, according to the Army. Over 44
percent of them will have outlived their original lifetime of 40 years by 2012,
it said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- The United States has offered to sell 36 used Apache attack helicopters to South Korea at less than 60 percent of the out-of-factory price, with upgrades to replace most of their critical parts, including the frame and engine, sources said Sunday.
The before-sale upgrades, often referred to as Block III, will essentially render the second-hand aircraft looking and performing as brand new, a source close to the envisioned deal said, asking to remain unidentified.
"When the aircraft is disassembled for the Block III upgrade, it will get a
new frame that will practically reset its age to zero," the source said.
An official at the aircraft's U.S. manufacturer, Boeing, said the upgrade will
also include new engines. The official, also asking not to be identified, said a
new frame has a life span of 10,000 hours.
The deal, if signed, is expected to be worth some 900 billion won (US$811
million), or over 3 percent of the country's entire defense budget of 26 trillion
won for this year.
South Korean officials acknowledged the offer provides a rare opportunity to
purchase AH-64D Apaches, which they said are "armed to the teeth" with
up to 16 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, a 30-mm nose-mounted M230 chain gun and
70-mm unguided rockets.
But they said the large overall size of the purchase is preventing a quick decision.
"A purchase will provide a quick solution to our aging UH-1H and 500MD
helicopters, but the amount of money involved requires thorough
deliberation," an official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to
the sensitivity of the issue.
Seoul is also seeking to develop its own attack helicopters in a project
estimated to cost between 5 trillion won to 10 trillion won, while its ongoing
program to develop an indigenous utility helicopter is expected to produce its
first prototype next year with a scheduled mass production start date of 2012.
"Because the Army's aging helicopters are mostly used for combat (attack)
maneuvers we need to either purchase or develop equipment that can replace those
aging assets, or do both," an official said.
The South Korean government is expected to make a decision before the end of the
year, he added.
The South Korean Army currently operates about 120 UH-1H utility helicopters, 55
percent of which are aged 30 years or more, according to the Army. Over 44
percent of them will have outlived their original lifetime of 40 years by 2012,
it said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
