South Korea Approves $2.4 Billion Purchase of 20 MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has cleared a 3.24 trillion won ($2.4 billion) project to acquire around 20 MH-60R Seahawk naval helicopters, replacing the aging Super Lynx fleet aboard the navy’s destroyers and frigates.

At a Glance

DAPA’s defense project promotion committee approved the plan on September 15, 2026.
The project covers roughly 20 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
Total value: 3.24 trillion won, about $2.4 billion.
Deliveries are planned to run through 2032.
The helicopters will replace the navy’s aging Super Lynx fleet embarked on destroyers and frigates.
Built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company; Seoul previously ordered 12 MH-60Rs in December 2020, with the first two formally entering service on April 1, 2026.

Background

The Republic of Korea Navy has long relied on Super Lynx helicopters for anti-submarine and surface warfare missions from its destroyers and frigates, but the platform’s age and sensor suite have struggled to keep pace with quieter, more capable submarine threats in the region. The MH-60R brings a more advanced sonobuoy processing suite, inverse synthetic aperture radar and torpedo/missile integration, extending detection and engagement ranges against both subsurface and surface targets.

Following its first 12-helicopter order in 2020, Seoul appears to be converging on the MH-60R as its standard naval ASW helicopter. Once the new batch is delivered, the total fleet will reach 32 airframes, reinforcing deterrence against growing undersea activity in Korea’s neighborhood. Unlike India’s recent procurement push, which sources 98% of value domestically, this program proceeds as a direct transfer from the United States, since no local MH-60R production line exists in South Korea.

Regional Impact

The Seahawk family is now in service with dozens of navies worldwide, effectively becoming an industry standard for naval ASW helicopters. Türkiye is part of that picture too: the Turkish Navy has long operated S-70B Seahawks, including from the deck of TCG Anadolu, with the type produced domestically under license. South Korea’s new order underlines how deeply the Seahawk family has penetrated the global naval helicopter market against rivals such as the NH90 and Wildcat — a competitive landscape that is directly relevant to countries pursuing their own ASW frigate programs, including Türkiye’s TF-2000 destroyer effort.

FAQ

Is this a signed contract or a preliminary approval?
The September 15 clearance is a project-level approval that moves the program into formal acquisition; final contract terms will be settled through further negotiations with the US government.

Which ships will carry the new helicopters?
They will operate from South Korean Navy destroyers and frigates, replacing the older Super Lynx fleet.

How large will the total fleet be?
Adding 20 new airframes to the existing 12 brings the total MH-60R fleet to 32.