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29 November 2022
by Jon Grevatt
South Korea’s DAPA has approved funding worth USD4.3 billion for a program to mass-produce Korea Aerospace Industries’ Light Armed Helicopter, pictured above undergoing cold weather tests in early 2022. (KAI)
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has approved the mass production of the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the agency announced.
DAPA said in a notice on November 28 that the LAH production program was budgeted at KRW5.75 trillion (USD4.3 billion) between 2022 and 2031. In the same notice, DAPA also approved the procurement of additional attack helicopters as well as projects to develop new rockets and ammunition.
A source with knowledge of the LAH program said
Janes
on 29 November that DAPA and KAI are expected to sign a contract for an initial batch of LAHs before the end of December. The source said this initial batch will feature “about 170 units”. Deliveries could begin in 2024.
The LAH program will replace the aging Hughes MD 500MD/BGM-71 TOW Defender and Bell AH-1S Cobra helicopters of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Army.
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