Key facts
- South Korea donated eight refurbished MD 500 Defender helicopters to Kenya.
- The donation aims to enhance U.N. peacekeeping operations' air mobility.
- The helicopters underwent repairs and refurbishment in the U.S. for two years.
- The handover ceremony took place in Nairobi on Friday.
A senior United Nations official expressed gratitude to South Korea on Friday for donating eight refurbished military helicopters to Kenya to support U.N. peacekeeping operations. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, U.N. under-secretary-general for peace operations, posted on X that the donation of eight MD 500 Defender helicopters was a "concrete example" of member states investing in peace. South Korea had pledged the choppers in 2021, and the U.S. provided maintenance and transport support. The helicopters were refurbished in the U.S. for two years before arriving in Kenya last month and have completed flight tests.