Army to Develop Attack Helicopters

Army to Develop Attack Helicopters

By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter The South Korean Army plans to launch a $6-billion arms procurement program to build about 270 advanced attack helicopters next year, in addition to the ongoing development of 245 utility helicopters. The plan is part of efforts to upgrade the Korean military’s defense readiness in preparation for its exercise of independent wartime command within five years, as well as to replace the Army’s aging 500MD light attack helicopters, Army officials said. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) approved the plan last June, according to sources. ``We aim to start the development project next year to produce high-tech attack helicopters with the introduction of foreign technologies,’’ an Army spokesman said, requesting not to be identified. ``The Army is in talks with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) for details, including the deadline.’’ ``Most of the existing attack helicopters will be nearly 30 years old by 2010. So, we need to secure new, advanced helicopters to prepare for our increasing role in national defense,’’ the official said. The Army now has about 700 helicopters, but more than half are outdated. The Army wants to build a prototype helicopter in 2014 before beginning mass production of 272 units, he said, adding the total procurement amount is estimated at about 5 to 6 trillion won. Some defense experts said, however, the cost may double. Initially, the Army planned to develop 299 transport helicopters and 178 attack helicopters by 2010 under the Korea Multi-Purpose Helicopter (KMH) program. But the project was downscaled in May 2005 because civic groups and the state audit agency had raised questions over its economic feasibility. The Army said it would determine whether to build attack helicopters later depending on the success of the utility helicopter project, codenamed the Korean Helicopter Program (KHP). The KHP that started in December 2005 aims to deploy 245 advanced troop-carrying helicopters in the military beginning in 2012 with the investment of about 1.3 billion won for the research and development, and management of the sophisticated rotary-wing aircraft. The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Eurocopter, a consortium from France and Germany, are in charge of the development and production of the transport helicopters. Seoul and Washington agreed last October to implement the transition of wartime operational control of the Korean troops from the U.S. military to the Korean commanders between 2009 and 2012