South Korea decides to buy the MH-60R Seahawk

On 15 December 2020, the South Korea Defense Acquisition Programme Administration reported that the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk has been chosen to bolster the Daehan Minguk Haegu (Republic of Korea Navy) anti-submarine capabilities.

South Korea will sign a contract, valued at USD 878 million, for twelve MH-60R Seahawks with the Lockheed Martin Corp. subsidiary before the end of this year. The decision was made during a defence project promotion committee meeting. The MH-60R was favoured over the Leonardo AW159 Wildcat.

In february 2020, US president Donald Trump urged the South Korean government to give preference to US made helicopters over UK made helicopters.

Delivery of the helicopters is expected to be finished by 2025.

Photo (just illustrative): Carey Mavor (Scramble Magazine Archive)