KAI receives development contract for Korean marines’ attack helicopter
South Korean marines will adopt a Marine Attack Helicopter design based on the MUH-1. (Image: KAI)
KAI’s contract to develop a home-grown marine attack helicopter for South Korea’s marine corps means the service will not field a dedicated tandem-seat design such as the Apache or Viper.
On 27 October, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a contract with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) that covered development of a new attack helicopter.
The contract was worth KRW438.4 billion ($307.4 million), and at the end of the 46-month development period, KAI will have completed three prototype Marine Attack Helicopters (MAHs).
The MAH is based on the MUH-1 Marineon, itself a variant of the KUH-1 Surion. Because of this commonality (claimed to be running at 96% with the MUH-1) and interoperability, KAI said it should ‘reduce the budget and improve air operational capability’.
It will also
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