▲ This photo, provided by the Navy on April 1, 2026, shows MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Navy-helicopter

Navy deploys MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for operation

SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- The Navy on Wednesday deployed MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters for the first time, in a move expected to strengthen the military's detection and attack capabilities against North Korean vessels and submarines.

A ceremony marking the delivery of MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters took place at a naval air command unit in Jinhae, some 310 kilometers southeast of Seoul, according to the Navy.

The move came after the state arms procurement agency in 2020 approved a 960 billion-won (US$637 million) project to purchase 12 Seahawks from U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin Corp.

"The Seahawk, armed with excellent detection and tracking, as well as swift maneuvering capabilities ... will bring a miserable defeat to the enemy and overwhelming victory to our forces," Naval Chief of Operations Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul said in a congratulatory message.

The Seahawk, which can fly at a maximum speed of 333 kph, is designed to handle multiple missions, including anti-submarine, anti-ship warfare, as well as search and rescue operations. It can fly up to four hours during a single departure when fitted with an auxiliary fuel tank.

In addition to the two choppers that have been deployed for operation, the armed service plans to deploy the remaining aircraft in phases.

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