By 2031, 5.75 Trillion Invested... KAI Production
Approval of 155mm Precision-Guided Artillery Shell Development Plan
Light Armed Helicopter Successfully Developed Domestically [Photo by Defense Acquisition Program Administration]
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The domestically developed small armed helicopter (LAH), the seventh of its kind in the world, will enter mass production within this year. Additionally, 820 billion KRW will be invested by 2036 for the development of the Korean version of the 'Spike missile' and 'Excalibur projectile.'
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) held the 147th Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee meeting on the morning of the 28th.
At the meeting, the committee reviewed and approved ▲ the basic development plan for the 130mm guided rocket-II system ▲ the basic strategy for the 155mm precision-guided projectile project ▲ the revised basic strategy and procurement plan for the second phase of the large attack helicopter project ▲ and the initial mass production plan for the small armed helicopter.
Progress of the Light Armed Helicopter Project [Photo by Defense Acquisition Program Administration]
The small armed helicopter project is a domestic research and development initiative to replace the aging 500MD and AH-1S helicopters with a new small armed helicopter.
Starting with the requirement decision in 2001, it went through exploratory development (2011?2012), initial test evaluation (2019?2020), and received a provisional combat suitability certification in December 2020. On this day, the committee made the first decision to proceed with mass production.
According to the approved plan, 5.75 trillion KRW will be spent from this year until 2031 to mass-produce the small armed helicopter. Following the approval of the mass production plan, DAPA plans to sign a mass production contract with the developer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) within this year. Subsequently, from 2024 to 2025, the helicopter will undergo operational deployment and field operation tests.
DAPA explained, "By successfully developing an armed helicopter as the seventh country in the world, we have secured independent development capabilities. Furthermore, we developed a helicopter suitable for future battlefield environments by equipping it with state-of-the-art avionics and domestically developed armaments." DAPA expects that utilizing the research and development infrastructure from this project will continuously contribute significantly to fostering the aviation industry and creating jobs.
The 155mm precision-guided projectile project aims to domestically develop a 155mm guided projectile capable of striking the origin of enemy fire provocations and precisely targeting key targets in full-scale war. The U.S. Raytheon's Excalibur projectile is a 155mm precision-guided projectile.
According to the basic strategy approved by the committee on this day, approximately 440 billion KRW will be invested from 2024 to 2036. Through this project, DAPA plans to secure a system capable of swiftly and accurately striking the enemy's key targets, thereby maximizing the military's firepower operational effectiveness.
Comparison of 130mm Guided Rocket 'Biryeong' and 130mm Guided Rocket-II Shape [Photo by Defense Acquisition Program Administration]
The 130mm guided rocket-II project is a domestic research and development initiative for the 130mm guided rocket-II system to counter enemy coastal artillery fire provocations and infiltration forces attempting surprise landings in adjacent waters.
Unlike the previously developed 130mm guided rocket 'Biryeong,' which is an anti-ship weapon system launched from the Chamsuri-class fast patrol boat, the 130mm guided rocket-II is an anti-ship and surface weapon system utilizing a mobile vehicle launch platform. It is a domestically developed weapon system similar to Israel Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' Spike missile.
The committee approved the basic development plan for the 130mm guided rocket-II project to be pursued as a company-led research and development project. Approximately 380 billion KRW will be invested from this year until 2033.
The revised basic strategy and procurement plan for the second phase of the large attack helicopter project also passed the committee on this day. This project involves securing large attack helicopters through foreign procurement to guarantee attack speed and provide real-time air fire support during offensive deep maneuver operations of the Army's maneuver division.
The committee decided to use a government-to-government contract (FMS) for procurement, and the purchased model is known to be the Apache helicopter. The project budget was adjusted to 3.3 trillion KRW, about 130 billion KRW more than the amount approved in last year's basic strategy decision.
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