The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Dec. 3 notified Congress of a possible $151 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to South Korea for CH-47D Model Aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support.
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| U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook Photo: Boeing |
The principal contractor would be Boeing [BA], producer of the Chinook helicopter. Internationally, some 450 Chinooks are flying for 17 countries, with strong international interest in the D model as well as the latest F variant.
The potential sale of 14 CH-47D helicopters would include two T55-GA-714A engines per aircraft, a total of 28 engines.
South Korea also wants: 5 T55-GA-714A Turbine to be used as spares,16 AN/ARC-220 HF radios, 32 AN/ARC-186 VHF AM/FM radios, 16 AN/ARN 123 VOR ILS marker beacons and 14 AN/ARN-154(V) Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) Systems. Also on the list: 16 AN/ARC-201D or AN/ARC-201E VHF FM homing radios, 16 AN/APN-209D radar altimeters and 16 AN/ASN-43 gyro-magnetic compasses.
The sale would include mission equipment, communication and navigation equipment, ground support equipment, special tools and test equipment, spares, publications, maintenance work orders/engineering change Proposals (MWO/ECP), technical support and training, the DSCA told Congress.
The CH-47Ds being considered for this sale are currently operated by U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) in South Korea.
This proposed sale of CH-47D aircraft equipped with T55-GA-714A engines will be provided from U.S. Army inventory located at Camp Humphrey, South Korea. The T55-GA-714A engines to be provided as spares will also be provided from U.S. government inventory.
If this proposed sale is approved, the aircraft will be sold and transferred to South Korea incrementally once USFK begins taking receipt of new-production CH-47F model aircraft, a process currently estimated to begin in the January 2014 timeframe.
The U.S. Army will not replace the CH-47D aircraft being proposed for sale and transfer to South Korea.
This proposed sale will allow the U.S. Army to avoid transportation and/or demilitarization costs in the amount of approximately $13.4 million, DSCA said.
The proposed sale will improve the South Korea’s capability to meet current and future requirements for troop movement, medical evacuation, aircraft recovery, parachute drop, search and rescue, disaster relief, fire-fighting and heavy construction support, DSCA said. South Korea will use this enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense, deter regional threats, and improve humanitarian and disaster mobilization and response.
These efforts support both South Korean and U.S. interests and objectives, and are consistent with strategic and regional goals. This sale is also consistent with the U.S. strategic interests for stability in the Pacific Command Area of Operations.
Implementing the proposed sale would require the assignment of 18 U.S. government or contractor representatives to South Korea to provide support, program management, and training for as long as two years.