Retired South Korean helicopters to fly again in Kenya after US overhaul

Retired South Korean 500MD helicopters will take to the skies again in Kenya after undergoing maintenance in the United States, as South Korea fulfills a pledge made to the international community to support UN peacekeeping operations through joint cooperation with Washington.

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said it held a helicopter donation ceremony Friday morning (local time) at the Kenya Army Headquarters in Nairobi.

About 100 people attended the ceremony, including defense officials from South Korea, the United States and Kenya, members of the local diplomatic corps, and UN representatives. Rear Adm. Ryu Yun-sang, head of the Korea-US Alliance Development TF, represented the Defense Ministry and read a congratulatory address on behalf of Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul.

The donation was made possible through trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Kenya. The Defense Ministry had announced the pledge to donate helicopters to UN peacekeeping missions in Africa at the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference held in Seoul in 2021, at which the United States committed to providing maintenance and transport support for the aging aircraft.

Eight retired 500MD helicopters were transferred to the United States beginning in December 2023. After roughly two years of maintenance, the helicopters arrived in Kenya in September and have been awaiting operational deployment after passing all test flights.

The Defense Ministry said the 500MD helicopters formerly operated by South Korea's military were significantly upgraded through US maintenance and technical support. It added that the donation — intended to support peacekeeping operations and strengthen Kenya's defense capabilities — served as an opportunity to signal South Korea's commitment to contributing to international peace and security through the Korea-US alliance.

"The 500MD helicopters being transferred today are more than a military asset — they are a symbol of South Korea's support for Kenya's development and its solidarity with the cause of peace and progress in Africa," Ryu said. "This project was made possible through close cooperation between South Korea and the United States, and it is a meaningful achievement for the Korea-US alliance."

The Defense Ministry said it plans to continue expanding its contributions to peacekeeping operations and develop South Korea into a leading technology-donor nation.