S.Korea Approves $4B Project to Buy F-35A Jets, Chinooks

South Korea’s arms procurement agency today approved two projects worth a combined $4 billion to buy F-35A jets and Chinook helicopters.

The agency will set aside 3.94 trillion-won ($2.97 billion) to acquire 20 additional F-35A stealth jets by 2028.

“It is expected that through this project, we will be able to minimize the vacuum that could emerge as aging fighters are decommissioned, and add a core asset to the Kill Chain program to deter threats from all directions and quickly neutralize North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile threats," the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a statement.

Another 1.4 trillion-won ($1 billion) project was greenlighted to procure an unspecified number of Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters by 2028. The project is designed to replace the aging fleet of CH-47D helicopters.