A $ 1 billion contract: South Korea Army will receive light shock helicopters Lah

New machines are designed to replace an outdated MD-500 and AH-1S Cobra helicopter fleet. The helicopters will be developed with the use of domestic technologies. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has announced a contract of 1. 4 trillion Won ($ 1. 08 billion) with the Department of Defense Procurement Program (DAPA) to create new shock helicopters for the National Army. This was announced on December 27 by Yonhap.

According to the terms of the contract, KAI will put the armies of light shock helicopters LAH by the fourth quarter of 2025. It is reported that new helicopters, created using domestic technologies, should replace the outdated MD-500 and AH-1S Cobra helicopter park. The KAI initiative goes beyond the simple replacement and is aimed at diversifying helicopters.

Along with LAH, specialized armored helicopters intended for special operations, as well as command-staff helicopters based on LAH technologies, are planned. It is noteworthy that in December last year, KAI concluded a contract of 300 billion WWIs at the DAPA at the beginning of production of LAH helicopters for the army, the supply of which should start at the end of 2024.

"This continuous flow of contracts emphasizes the key role of KAI in strengthening the arsenal of national defense," the observers emphasized. A light shock helicopter LAH with two French turbocharged Safran engines was designed on the basis of the Airbus H155 civilian version platform.

The machine will be armed with a three-barrel tower tower gatling M197 caliber 20 mm, four controlled anti-tank missiles of the Air-Earth class and two triggery with a point of guidance for point attacks under 70-mm Unmanaged Hydra 70. Specifications: Earlier it was reported that in South Korea the development of an automatic detection of marine mines on the basis of artificial intelligence began to develop.