South Korea Ditches Apache Helicopters: Betting on Drones and AI for Future Warfare
South Korea has abandoned plans to acquire 36 additional Apache attack helicopters due to rising costs and the increasing vulnerability of helicopters in modern warfare. Funding for the program was nearly eliminated in a recent supplementary budget, with officials citing the need to shift defense priorities towards unmanned systems and advanced technologies. The decision reflects concerns about the cost-effectiveness of the Apache and the impact of drone and missile threats, as demonstrated in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This shift aligns with similar reevaluations of attack helicopter programs in the U.S., Japan, and Australia.
John Q. Hosedrinker