South Korea delivers eight refurbished MD-500 helicopters to Kenya for UN peacekeeping

South Korea completed a commitment to aid UN peacekeeping operations by donating eight refurbished MD-500 Defender helicopters to Kenya. After being sent to the United States for two years of maintenance, the aircraft were returned to Africa and arrived in Kenya last month, where they successfully completed flight testing. A formal hand-over ceremony took place at the Kenya Army Corps of Aviation in Nairobi, attended by roughly 200 participants, including defence officials from South Korea, the United States and Kenya, as well as diplomatic representatives.

The United States handled the overhaul and logistical support for the transfer. This contribution stems from a pledge made during the 2021 UN peacekeeping ministerial meeting in Seoul, and the South Korean defence ministry indicated plans to expand its support for future UN missions.