[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense video] Large Mobility Helicopter for North Infiltration

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] Our military is drawing attention regarding the helicopters it will possess in the future, as it is known that not only will it upgrade the aging Chinook helicopters (CH/HH-47D), but it also plans to proceed with the third phase of the large-scale transport helicopter project.

According to the military, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration is reportedly planning to proceed with the third phase of the large-scale transport helicopter project to introduce 22 new Chinooks, separate from the performance upgrade project. A total of 22 units (12 for transport, 10 for special operations) will be introduced to establish a massive retaliation system (KMPR) in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The special operations large-scale transport helicopters currently under review by the military are known to include Boeing's MH-47G, MV-22, and Sikorsky's CH-53.

The Navy is also preparing swiftly. Last year, when announcing the construction plan for the Korean-style aircraft carrier, the large transport ship LPX-II, discussions about carrier-based fighter jets have been steadily raised both inside and outside the military. In particular, there have been many observations that the large transport ship LPX-II, which will be commissioned in 2033, will be similar in scale to the US Navy’s helicopter assault landing ships and the UK’s Queen Elizabeth-class medium aircraft carriers.

At last year’s International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition (MADEX 2019), Hyundai Heavy Industries unveiled a conceptual image of a Queen Elizabeth-class style ship equipped with a ski-jump ramp. Through this, it is expected to be equipped with 15 to 20 vertical takeoff and landing stealth fighters F-35B, as well as 26 large transport helicopters capable of airlifting about 1,000 landing troops.

Currently, representative models of large transport helicopters for maritime use include the US Lockheed Martin’s CH-53E and its expanded upgraded version CH-53K, as well as the AW-101 jointly developed by the UK and Italy. The CH-53E helicopter is an older model whose mass production has already been discontinued, and its successor, the CH-53K, has entered initial mass production. However, the CH-53K has the disadvantage of being more expensive than the F-35 stealth fighter. The MV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft is also being mentioned in some circles.