Seoul gives go-ahead for production of KAI light armed helicopter (LAH)

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) authorized the start of serial production of the LAH, a light attack and reconnaissance helicopter developed by KAI. It also made funds available to purchase a new batch of heavy attack helicopters abroad.

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The Light Armed Helicopter project was aimed at the domestic development of a replacement for the obsolete MD-500 and Bell AH-1S of the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA).

As can be seen at a glance, the LAH (and its civilian version, the LCH) looks almost the same as the H155 (which is an evolution of the famous AS 365 Dauphin), since for its development KAI enlisted the technical assistance of Airbus Helicopters. The LAH is a modern attack and reconnaissance helicopter, whose first flight took place in 2019.

See also: KAI beats Bell for future Korean amphibious attack helicopter

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General features

The LAH has low noise and vibration levels, thanks to the modern configuration of its five-blade main rotor (Spheriflex type) and its Fenestron type tail rotor. Another modern feature is that it has computer-assisted flight in its four axes.

For propulsion, two HAS-Arriel 2L2 engines are used, jointly developed by Safran Helicopter Engines and Hanwha Aerospace, which will manufacture the units under license and will also be responsible for the MRO.

The 2L2 was developed from the Arriel 2N and is the most powerful variant of the Arriel with a takeoff power of 1024 shp. According to SAFRAN, the Arriel 2L2 engine will offer increased reliability, power and performance during the most demanding missions.

The LAH features a glass cockpit and state-of-the-art avionics, designed to provide the highest situational awareness capability to its crew and optimize the human-machine interface (HMI).

In terms of armament, it has a 20mm tri-tube cannon (aimed by the  helmet–mounted display –HMD-), 70mm rockets, anti-tank missiles and will even be able to carry and launch its own drones and loitering ammunition.

Finally, the helicopter is equipped with a modern suite of protection against infrared, laser-guided and radar guided missiles.

According to information released by DAPA, the LAH serial production project will run from 2022 to 2031, and has an allocated budget of approximately $4.3 billion.

The ROK Army is expected to procure about 210 units starting in 2023.

Heavy attack helicopter

In the same release, DAPA reported that it allocated about $2.4 billion for the overseas procurement of a new batch of heavy attack helicopters for the Korean Army.

The RoKA currently deploys 36 AH-64E Apache helicopters, and they will most likely seek to increase the number of these in the face of steadily rising tensions with their northern neighbor.