The US and South Korean militaries have agreed to a pilot program to overhaul US Army Chinook heavy-lift helicopters based in South Korea, utilizing South Korean defense firms for the work.
Strengthening the Alliance Through Logistics Cooperation
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced the decision after a meeting of the Republic of Korea (ROK) – US Logistics Cooperation Committee in Seoul. The meeting was attended by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Product Support Lisa Smith and South Korea’s Director General for Logistics Management of the ROK MND Lee Kap-soo.
The MND stated that the involvement of South Korean defense companies will strengthen the ROK-US alliance, improve combat readiness, and enhance South Korea’s defense industry capabilities.
Chinook Maintenance at Camp Humphreys
The US Army’s 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, stationed at Camp Humphreys in South Korea, operates the CH-47F Chinook, alongside South Korea’s army and air forces.
Hanwha Aerospace to Lead Engine Overhaul
While the specific South Korean company for depot-level maintenance of the Chinook’s T55 turboshaft engines was not initially named, a Hanwha Aerospace spokesperson told South Korea’s Yonhap news agency that the company is the only one in-country with the necessary facilities and expertise.
Hanwha Aerospace welcomed the decision to establish South Korea as the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub for the T55 engine under the Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF). The company said this demonstrates the shared commitment to regional security.
„As Korea’s sole aircraft engine specialist with 46 years of proven excellence, Hanwha Aerospace is uniquely positioned to lead this effort. We are ready to leverage our advanced MRO capabilities to ensure maximum operational availability for U.S. forces across the region,” the company stated.
Hanwha’s Shipbuilding Arm’s Previous Overhaul Work
Hanwha’s shipbuilding arm, Hanwha Ocean, previously completed the overhaul of the Military Sealift Command’s dry cargo ship USNS Wally Schirra in March 2025 and has won contracts for the overhaul of the oiler USNS Yukon and another dry cargo ship, the USNS Charles Drew.
Regional Sustainment Framework Initiative
The DoD announced the RSF initiative in May 2024 to develop distributed MRO capabilities closer to the point of need. This involves collaborating with allies and partners, as well as the US and international defense industrial bases, to leverage their capabilities to better support US military readiness.
