The Ministry of Defense has delivered eight retired 500MD helicopters to Kenya after maintenance and technical support from the United States. This initiative, aimed at supporting United Nations peacekeeping operations, signifies the expansion of military cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. to the international community.
On October 23, a ceremony for the helicopter donation was held at the Kenya Army Aviation Command in Nairobi, where the eight retired helicopters were officially handed over.
The event was attended by over 200 participants, including officials from the defense ministries of South Korea, the U.S., and Kenya, as well as local diplomats and UN representatives. Rear Admiral Ryu Yoon-sang, head of the South Korea-U.S. Alliance Development Task Force, represented Minister of Defense Kang Shin-cheol and delivered a congratulatory message.
This donation follows a commitment made by the South Korean government during the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial held in Seoul in 2021, where it pledged to provide helicopters to support peacekeeping efforts in Africa. At that time, South Korea announced plans to donate retired 500MD helicopters, with the U.S. agreeing to assist with maintenance and transportation.
From December 2023, the eight retired 500MD helicopters were transported to the U.S. for maintenance, which took approximately two years, and were shipped to Kenya in September after completing maintenance and passing recent test flights.
In his congratulatory message delivered by Rear Admiral Ryu, Minister Kang stated, "The 500MD helicopters being transferred today symbolize South Korea's support and solidarity for Kenya's development and peace in Africa. This achievement is a result of close cooperation between South Korea and the U.S., marking a significant outcome for the South Korea-U.S. alliance."
The Ministry of Defense added, "We will continue to expand our contributions to peacekeeping operations, establishing ourselves as a leading donor of advanced technology."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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