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| A KAI light armed helicopter conducts flight tests in cold weather conditions. Courtesy of Korea Aerospace Industries |
By Kang Seung-woo
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the player behind the nation's locally developed fighter jet, is earning its stripes in the helicopter sector as the company is set to mass-produce light armed helicopters (LAHs), while embarking on a project to locally develop a minesweeping chopper.
According to KAI, it signed a contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Thursday, for producing 10 LAHs along with integrated product support, worth 302 billion won ($235 million), the delivery of which will begin in December 2024.
The contract came after the DAPA approved a 5.75 trillion won plan to begin mass production of the LAH through 2031.
The KAI's LAH is aimed at replacing the aging fleet of 500MD Defender and AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters and assuming multiple mission roles such as light attack, close air support, escort and troop transportation.
The helicopter features an integrated full-glass cockpit, equipped with smart multi-function display (SMFD) and an integrated electronic map computer (IDMC), while armed with a chin-mounted 20-milimeter turret gun, air-to-ground guided missiles and unguided rockets.
In addition, a four-axis digital automatic flight control system (AFCS), a target acquisition designation system (TADS) and a helmet-mounted display (HMD) help improve the pilot's ability to complete missions through closer linkage with the weapons system.
Several other defense systems ― an electronic warfare computer, a radar warning receiver and missile warning receiver ― also help improve the survivability of the aircraft.
The KAI chopper has adopted the Korean variable message format (KVMF) and Link-K ― for the the first time among locally developed aircraft. KVMF is a means of exchanging digital data across an interface that could be between combat units at varied organizational levels and applicable to a broad range of tactical communication systems, while Link-K is a tactical data link system for joint operation capability upgrades of Korean forces.
"The first mass production contract carries significance as it serves as a signal of securing mass production contracts," a KAI official said.
In the future, KAI also plans to develop a variant of the LAH that can carry out various operations. The company already unveiled it at the Defense Expo Korea in September.
Separately, KAI, based in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, will develop a minesweeping helicopter by 2026 under a 345 billion won project, agreed with DAPA, also on Thursday.
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| A minesweeping helicopter / Courtesy of Korea Aerospace Industries |
The project is aimed at bolstering the Republic of Korea Navy's countermine capabilities and protecting maritime shipping lanes.
Once developed, an unspecified number of the choppers will be deployed to a minesweeping helicopter battalion that the Navy seeks to create by 2030.
According to the company, the new helicopter will use an updated version of software applied to other KAI-made choppers ― the Surion, the Marineon and the LAH ― a decision that will increase interoperability between them and save operation and maintenance costs. The Surion is a multi-role utility helicopter, while the Marineon is a Surion-variant amphibious helicopter.
KAI is the first aircraft manufacturer in the world to embark on a development project for a minesweeping helicopter.
"We expect the minesweeping helicopter to boost the Navy's maritime operation capabilities by having a helicopter specialized in anti-mine missions," the KAI official said.
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