US to withdraw Kiowa choppers from Korea, deploys Apaches

United States Army will withdraw its light Kiowa Warrior choppers from the Korean Peninsula and replace them with heavy-hitting Apaches, official sources said Sunday.

South Korean military and United States Forces Korea (USFK) sources said the OH-53D armed reconnaissance helicopters will be pulled out gradually. The 30 choppers of an aviation squadron were deployed in the country in 2013 as part of a rotational force.

The single-engine, single-rotor Kiowa is based on the Bell Model 206 copter and can be armed with 70 mm rockets, 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and Hellfire and Stinger missiles. They usually operate with the USFK and South Korean Army attack helicopters like the AH-1S Cobras and have been an integral part on local exercises like the Ulchi Freedom Guardian.

"The AH-64s, considered as the best attack helicopters in the world, will take the place of the Kiowa Warriors that will greatly enhance the fighting capability of the allies against North Korean forces," an insider who declined to be identified said. He said some 20 AH-64Ds or the more potent AH-64Es are expected to arrive in the country.

Others said that the deployment of the Apaches will send a clear message of resolve that the allies stand united in countering any provocations by Pyongyang.

At present, the US Army in South Korea has one battalion of 24 Apaches. If the additional choppers are deployed, the strength will be almost double.

Seoul, meanwhile, has ordered 36 AH-64Es for 1.84 trillion won (1.6 billion) with the first four arriving in the country in May.

The remaining 32 will reach the country by early 2017. The South Korean Army said its machines will be used to not only deal with North Korean armor but also its hovercraft forces.

The Apaches are heavily armored and armed being able to carry 16 Hellfire missiles that can devastate tank formations. They can be armed with Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and take on 76 70 mm rockets and fly at 269 kilometers per hour.

The attack helicopters have a 30 mm chain gun with 1,200 rounds and are highly effective in providing suppressive fire for ground troops as well as destroying enemy armor. (Yonhap)