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After LCA Tejas-FA-50 Clash, South Korea Set To Challenge India’s LCH Prachand With Light Armed Helos

Following the successful export of its fighter jets and overpowering Indian (LCA Tejas) and Chinese (JF-17) fighters, South Korea is set to expand its defense export portfolio by targeting the international helicopter market. 

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South Korea had some degree of advantage over Indian and Chinese jets; however, when it comes to choppers, India appears to have a clear lead over South Korea. Not only is India operating its Light Combat Choppers at dizzying heights, but several nations have shown strong interest in acquiring these helos.

Korean choppers, on the other hand, are really struggling.

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), the nation’s sole aircraft manufacturer, is confident that its ambition to export helicopters might be nearing realization.

KAI has established a strong global presence with its FA-50 fighter aircraft and KT-1 trainer jets. However, the company has faced challenges in replicating this success with its helicopters.

KAI manufactures the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH), known as Surion, which has been deployed in the South Korean Army since 2012 and has variants used by the Marine Corps, police, Coast Guard, and other services. Despite its versatility, the Surion has not attracted foreign buyers.

Now, South Korea is betting on a new contender: the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH). Developed by KAI between 2015 and 2022, the LAH is designed to replace the South Korean Army’s aging fleet of US-origin 500MD Tow and Bell AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters.

The LAH performed its maiden flight in 2019 and has since made significant progress towards entering mass production. In August 2023, KAI signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters to begin serial production of the LAH.

This was followed by a significant 1.4 trillion won (US$1.08 billion) contract in December 2023 with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration to deliver the first LAH units to the South Korean Army by the end of the year. The Army plans to operate approximately 170 units in the future.

Jung Sung-jin, a senior manager of KAI’s rotary-wing production team, told Yonhap that the assembly of core components was 80 percent complete and would be finished by August.

The helicopter would then undergo ground tests and test flights, with delivery scheduled for November. Jung highlighted the assembly line’s capacity to produce 2.5 units per month, or 30 units annually.

South Korea’s Confidence In LAH’s Potential

The Light Armed Helicopter is being produced by KAI at its facility in Sacheon, South Korea, based on the Airbus H155 platform. Airbus Helicopters is supplying the necessary kits for mass production.

It can perform multiple mission roles, including light attack, close air support, escort, and troop transport duties. This helicopter will replace the MD500 Defender and AH-1S Cobra helicopters in the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA).

The LAH prototypes have undergone rigorous testing, including 80 days in Yellowknife, Canada, and over 2,000 hours of testing under various conditions.

The company is currently conducting flight tests of a black prototype No. 2 at its airfield in Sacheon, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

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