Newsnomics  AJAY ANGELINA reporter | South Korea will embark 347.7 billion-won ($271.4 million) in a minesweeping chopper developmental project by 2026 for the enhancement of naval operations, said state arms procurement agency on Thursday December 22, 2022.

The project aims at bolstering the Navy's countermine capabilities and protecting maritime shipping lanes with the cooperation of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., South Korea's sole aircraft maker.

Once developed, an unspecified number of the choppers will be deployed to a minesweeping helicopter battalion that the Navy seeks to create by 2030.

"The Navy will be able to conduct swift, multidimensional anti-mine operations through the project," said DAPA official in a press release.

"We expect it to become a major weapons system able to protect our country's major ports and sea lines of communication given that 99% of South Korea's imports and exports are transported through maritime trade."