Additional Procurement of 36 Apache Helicopters Effectively Scrapped as Government Cuts Entire Budget in Supplementary Bill

Yonhap News Agency

The plan to procure an additional 36 AH-64E Apache Guardian heavy attack helicopters has effectively entered the process of being scrapped. The momentum for the project has sharply declined after the entire related budget was cut from this year's government supplementary budget proposal.

According to Assemblyman Yoo Yongwon of the People Power Party and the Ministry of National Defense on July 6, the supplementary budget bill passed by the National Assembly on July 4 reduced the budget for the second phase of the heavy attack helicopter project from the previously allocated 10 billion won (based on the 2025 main budget) to 300 million won. Even this reduced amount of 300 million won was diverted to other projects, meaning that in effect, the budget for the second phase of the heavy attack helicopter project for this year has been reduced to zero.

Previously, at a Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting in May, it was decided to review alternative assets such as manned-unmanned teaming systems for this project. Assemblyman Yoo noted, "With the project budget completely cut even in the supplementary budget, the likelihood of additional Apache procurement being scrapped has significantly increased."

The U.S. military is also pushing for the early retirement of Apache attack helicopters due to maintenance cost burdens, and is instead reorganizing its force structure around high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles such as the Gray Eagle. Assemblyman Yoo commented, "A full reconsideration of additional Apache helicopter procurement in line with similar trends in our military appears to be a positive development."

In this supplementary budget, a total of 87.8 billion won was cut from seven defense capability improvement projects, in addition to the heavy attack helicopter project. Notable examples include the GOP (General Outpost) scientific surveillance system upgrade (-30 billion won), mobile long-range radar (-12 billion won), 120mm self-propelled mortar (-20 billion won), and special operations pistols (-13.7 billion won).

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration stated, "The reduced budgets were calculated mainly for projects where bid differences occurred or where execution within the year was impossible," adding, "For the projects affected by the cuts, we will promptly resolve related issues to ensure that they proceed smoothly in the future."