South Korea may drop plans to buy Apache helicopters after budget cut

South Korean government's plan to purchase 36 additional AH-64 Apache attack helicopters will likely be scrapped after a massive budget cut, a lawmaker noted Sunday.

The funding was cut from 10 billion won (US$7.3 million) to just 300 million won in the supplementary budget approved by the National Assembly on Friday, as reported by Yonhap.

The remaining amount will reportedly be redirected to another project, according to Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the main opposition People Power Party and the Ministry of National Defense. This comes after the Joint Chiefs of Staff decided in May to formally review the plan and consider alternative options, including manned-unmanned teaming systems.

Calling the decision a "positive development," Yoo noted the U.S. Army is also moving away from the aged, high-maintenance Apaches in favor of advanced drone assets like the Gray Eagle to modernize its forces.