On December 26, KAI (Korea Aerospace Industries) held a delivery ceremony at its headquarters in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, for the handover of the first serial production light attack helicopter “Miron” (LAH-1) to the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA).
KAI President Kang Gu-Young, as well as representatives from the Army, the Defense Acquisition Agency (DAPA), the Defense Research Institute and other related agencies participated in the ceremony.
President Kang said, “The successful development and commissioning of the Miron is a symbol of the continued effort and passion of the government, the armed forces and KAI. With strict quality control, we will successfully complete deliveries and operational support to contribute to strengthening the advanced aviation capabilities of our armed forces through continuous technology innovation.”
Development of the Miron began in 2015, when KAI embarked on the task of creating a replacement for the Korean Army’s aging fleet of 500MD and AH-1S Cobra scout and attack helicopters. The process culminated in November 2022 with the completion of development, and after a year of fine-tuning and optimization, series production has reached its first milestone with the successful delivery of the first helicopters.
LAH-1 “Miron” characteristics
The Miron is designed to perform a broad spectrum of missions, from operations against ground targets to close support and surveillance missions. Among its salient features are:
- Advanced armament: The helicopter is armed with Cheongeom air-to-ground missiles, along with a powerful machine gun and 2.75” rockets, giving it a remarkable strike capability against ground targets and enemy positions.
- Advanced control system: The Miron integrates a 4-axis automatic flight control system (AFCS) that stabilizes the helicopter against atmospheric disturbances and recoil from gunfire, allowing pilots to conduct precision strikes while maintaining full control over the aircraft.
- Tactical data link: Another unique feature of the Miron is its joint tactical data link system, which enables real-time transmission of the situation on the battlefield. According to KAI, this capability is unique in its class.
Targeting the export market
The helicopter has been designed with a modular approach, opening the door to several derivative variants to meet a wide range of missions. KAI has already announced its intention to develop special operations-oriented versions of the Miron, as well as command and control helicopters, which portends significant potential for commercialization in international markets.
With growing demand for advanced helicopters in markets such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa, South Korea is positioning KAI as a key player in the export of defense aircraft.
