In this image released by the U.S. Department of Defense, an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter takes off from the flight deck of the world's largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Oct. 11, 2023. AFP-Yonhap

The Navy's new MH-60R Seahawk helicopters will begin to arrive in South Korea next month, officials said Thursday, as part of efforts to better counter threats posed by North Korean submarines.

In 2020, defense authorities approved a 960 billion-won ($667.6 million) project to purchase 12 Seahawks from U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin to strengthen the Navy's anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities.

Of the 12 helicopters to be introduced, the first chopper is set to arrive in the country in February, with the rest expected to be delivered in phases by the end of the year, an official at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said.

The Seahawks are expected to enter operations next year after undergoing field tests and other pre-deployment procedures, according to a Navy official.

Equipped with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, Mark 54 lightweight torpedoes, and a dipping sonar system, the Seahawks will work alongside the Navy's P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, reinforcing surveillance and defense against North Korean submarine threats.

The Seahawks are also expected to enhance the Navy's operational capabilities as they offer longer flight endurance compared with the Lynx and AW159 Wildcat choppers currently in service, according to DAPA.

North Korea is estimated to be operating a fleet of some 70 submarines, many of which are small and older models, according to South Korean officials.

Pyongyang has recently focused on advancing its submarine capabilities, unveiling what it claimed to be a tactical nuclear attack submarine in 2023. (Yonhap)