IRIA News

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South Korea has approved a plan to buy about 20 additional U.S.-made MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters for $2.4 billion, as the Navy replaces its aging Lynx fleet and strengthens its anti-submarine and anti-ship capabilities.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) approved the project on September 15, with the acquisition scheduled to run through 2032. The Navy will purchase the helicopters under the Marine Operations Helicopter (MOH) II program.

The new aircraft will provide improved detection and engagement of underwater and surface targets, along with longer mission endurance compared with the Navy’s existing Lynx helicopters.

South Korea already operates the MH-60R Seahawk after ordering 12 helicopters in December 2020 under the MOH I program through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales system.

By November 2025, the Navy had inducted six of the helicopters. On April 1, 2026, the first two were formally deployed for operations, with the remaining aircraft scheduled to enter service sequentially.

The latest acquisition will expand the Navy’s Seahawk fleet and support its efforts to modernize maritime aviation.

The U.S. State Department had already approved a proposed sale of 24 additional MH-60R helicopters to South Korea for an estimated $3 billion in May 2026. The approved South Korean project is valued at approximately $2.4 billion and covers around 20 helicopters.

Replacing the Aging Lynx Helicopters

The acquisition is part of South Korea’s efforts to replace its aging shipborne maritime helicopters. The Navy acquired 25 Mk 99 Lynx and Mk 99A Super Lynx helicopters during the 1990s.

These aircraft were equipped with dipping sonar and radar for submarine detection and have served aboard South Korean naval destroyers and frigates.

The new Seahawk helicopters are designed to improve the Navy’s ability to detect and engage submarines and surface vessels.

Compared with the existing Lynx helicopters, the MH-60R offers enhanced sensors, improved maritime warfare capabilities, and longer endurance in anti-surface warfare operations.

The acquisition will allow the Navy to gradually replace older aircraft while strengthening its ability to conduct maritime surveillance and underwater operations.

MH-60R Seahawk

The MH-60R Seahawk, also known as the Romeo, is a twin-engine maritime helicopter manufactured by U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin.

It is designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare. The helicopter can detect and track underwater and surface targets and engage hostile vessels using its onboard weapons.

The Seahawk also supports search and rescue, surveillance, communications relay, naval gunfire support, logistics, personnel transport, and medical evacuation missions. Its equipment includes multimode radar, electronic support measures, electro-optical and infrared sensors, datalinks, dipping sonar, sonobuoys, and aircraft survivability systems.

These systems allow the helicopter to search for submarines, monitor maritime activity, and share information with naval forces. The MH-60R can carry torpedoes, air-to-surface missiles, and rockets to engage hostile targets.

Performance and Capabilities

The MH-60R is 64.83 feet long and has a maximum takeoff weight of 10,682 kilograms. It is powered by two General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft engines, each producing 1,890 shaft horsepower.

The helicopter has a maximum speed of approximately 333 kilometers per hour. Its maximum cruise speed is 260 kilometers per hour, while its service ceiling is 19,000 feet. In the anti-surface warfare configuration, the MH-60R has a mission endurance of approximately 3.3 hours.

Its combination of sensors, weapons, and maritime operating capabilities makes it suitable for missions from naval destroyers and frigates.

Strengthening Naval Operations

The additional Seahawk helicopters will support South Korea’s efforts to improve its maritime defense capabilities.

The Navy operates in waters where submarine detection and surface surveillance are important parts of naval operations. The MH-60R’s dipping sonar, radar, sonobuoys, and other sensors are designed to support these missions.

The helicopters can also conduct anti-ship operations and provide support during search and rescue missions. Under the MOH II program, South Korea will continue expanding its maritime helicopter capabilities through 2032.

The acquisition will gradually replace the Navy’s older Lynx helicopters with a newer platform designed for a wider range of maritime missions. The project is valued at approximately $2.4 billion and represents another step in South Korea’s ongoing naval aviation modernization program.