US Deploys 24 Apache Helicopters in South Korea

US Forces Korea plans to deploy 24 Apache helicopters to South Korea by next month to better counter growing threats from North Korea, US military officials said Monday. 
As part of a scheduled rotational deployment, the 24 AH-64D Apache heavy attack helicopters will gradually replace the 30 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior observation and light attack choppers by early February, the USFK and the South Korean Ministry of National Defense said in a joint statement. 
"The Apache helicopter battalion will be stationed at Camp Humphreys, and part of the unit will be temporarily deployed to Suwon Air Base until the new aircraft parking apron is complete at CP Humphreys (in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul)," US Army Col. Rob Manning said in a press briefing held at the ministry's headquarters in Seoul. 
Initially, eight Apache helicopters will be deployed to Camp Humphreys and 16 Apache choppers will be sent to Suwon Air Base from Wednesday to Friday. When the construction work is finished at Camp Humphreys in October, the eight Apaches will be relocated to Pyeongtaek, director of the U.S. policy division at the ministry, Kim Sung-min said in the briefing.

Source: QNA