Nairobi:South Korea has donated eight decommissioned military helicopters to Kenya after an overhaul, fulfilling its commitment to support the United Nations peacekeeping missions in the region, as stated by officials on Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a ceremony marking the donation of the eight MD 500 Defenders was held at the Kenya Army Corps of Aviation in Nairobi. This initiative is part of South Korea's pledge made during the UN peacekeeping ministerial meeting held in Seoul in 2021, where it committed to providing helicopters for UN peacekeeping operations across Africa.
The United States played a critical role in the project by conducting maintenance work on the helicopters and assisting in their transportation to Kenya. Since late 2023, the helicopters underwent maintenance and repair in the US for about two years before their successful arrival in Kenya last month. The choppers are now ready for deployment following the completion of all necessary flight tests.
The South Korean defense ministry has expressed its intention to further expand contributions to UN peacekeeping missions. Friday's ceremony was attended by approximately 200 personnel, including defense officials from South Korea, the US, and Kenya, as well as members of the local diplomatic corps.