The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) will develop 214 Light Armed Helicopters (LAH) by 2022, sources said Thursday.
With a national budget of 700 billion won, the new ones, conditioned on the plan being granted, are to replace the 1st generation of the attack helicopters such as the 500MD and the AH-1S, both of which are from the U.S.
The plans will be introduced at a meeting held by DAPA committee with Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin present on Feb.28.
Although the administration said the country will "develop" the helicopters, chances are it will be met by criticism that the process is "purchasing the technology" from the U.S. rather than coming up with our own.
The decision came after a slew of accidents caused by malfunction of the aged components, most of which were made more than 20 years ago (1988-1991).
Korean Air produced 500MD here in 1976-84 with the license from U.S. McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems, but the nearly 40-year-old helicopters are out of shape, claiming three pilots' lives for the last three years and are suffering frequent emergency landings, sources said.
If the plan passes the committee, the administration will select contractors through a bidding in June.
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