South Korea Donates Eight Refurbished Helicopters to Kenya
South Korea donated eight refurbished MD 500 Defender helicopters to Kenya to support United Nations peacekeeping missions and regional security operations in Africa.
The Ministry of National Defense of South Korea donated eight refurbished MD 500 Defender military helicopters to Kenya on October 23, 2026. The handover ceremony took place at the Kenya Army Corps of Aviation headquarters in Embakasi, Nairobi, and was attended by defense officials from South Korea, the United States, and Kenya.
The donation fulfills a pledge made by South Korea during a 2021 UN peacekeeping ministerial meeting in Seoul. To prepare the decommissioned aircraft for service, the helicopters were transported to the United States in late 2023. Over the following two years, the U.S. government maintained and refurbished the aircraft, installed advanced digital systems, and provided training for Kenyan pilots and technicians.
Kenyan officials stated the helicopters will enhance capabilities in reconnaissance, aerial support, mobility, and counter-terrorism efforts across East Africa and the Horn of Africa. Following the successful completion of flight tests, the aircraft are now awaiting deployment. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the U.N. under-secretary-general for peace operations, praised the contribution as a concrete example of member states investing in peace.
