The U. S. Army is slated to deploy 24 AH-64D Apache heavy attack helicopters to the Korean Peninsula to better deter military threats from North Korea, United States Forces Korea (USFK) announced in a January 8 statement.
The heavy attack helicopters will replace 30 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior observation and light attack helicopters. Around 360 U. S. Army personnel are expected to replace a similar number of U. S. troops currently serving with the OH-58D unit.
“The 1-6th Heavy Attack Reconnaissance Squadron (H-ARS) will begin to arrive to Korea on this month, bringing with them 24 AH-64 Apache helicopters. As part of a scheduled rotation, the Apaches will replace the 30 OH58D’s currently stationed on the Korean Peninsula,” the statement reads.
“The helicopters will be temporarily housed at Suwon Airbase until the new aviation facilities at Camp Humphreys are ready.” The U. S. Army base–the largest U. S. military garrison in Asia–is located near the city of Pyeongtaek, around 70 kilometers south of Seoul.
