The US State Department, through the Defense and Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), has approved the sale of 288 AGM-114R Hellfire air-to-ground missiles to South Korea. The contract valued at US$ 36 million also provides for the supply of spare parts, storage, technical and other logistical items.
Semi-active laser-guided missiles will be supplied by Lockheed Martin. The possible acquisition could reinforce the arsenal of AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters of the South Korean Army, which operates 36 units of the model.
According to the DSCA statement, South Korea routinely requests compensation agreements, which will be discussed between Lockheed and the country's government.
In service since the 1980s, the Hellfire is an air-to-ground missile that can be used on several platforms, especially those with rotary wings, with the Apache attack helicopter being one of the main s of this weapon.
In addition to the Hellfire, the Apache also uses 70mm rockets, Stinger air-to-air missiles, Spike air-to-ground missiles and the M230 30mm cannon. South Korea received its first AH-64Es in 2016.
