Five firms competing in ROKMC Attack Helicopter Project

Original Article

Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) is currently in the process of rebuilding its aviation combat element after it was absorbed into the Navy in 1973. Its first step was acquiring utility helicopters for ferrying Marines during amphibious operations. Maritime variant of Korea Aerospace Industries KUH-1 Surion, designated MUH-1 Marineon, was developed to meet this requirement. Total of 40 MUH-1 are expected to be acquired, with 32 going to the Marines and 8 going to the Navy. Despite the deadly crash which occured last year due to faulty parts supplied by Airbus, the plan is still on track.

MUH-1 Marineon

Photo Credit: Newsis

ROKMC's attack helicopter acquisition had been discussed in early 2000s, but was shelved due to budget restraint. The project was subsequently revived in 2017 and the number of helicopters were adjusted to reflect the evolving amphibious doctrine. Currently, the project is under preliminary study and final Required Operational Capability (ROC) is expected to be ironed out by end of this year.

Now, ROKMC is in the process of acquiring up to 24 attack helicopters to support its future fleet of MUH-1 utility helicopters during amphibious operations. ROKMC Air Wing, scheduled to be formed in 2021, will be composed of two utiltiy helicopter squadrons and one attack helicopter squadron.   Currently, total of five firms have expressed interests in supplying attack helicopters to meet ROKMC's requirements. 

Boeing, Bell, and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) offered AH-64E Apache Guardian, AH-1Z Viper, and T-129 ATAK attack helicopters. All three helicopters have previously competed in ROK Army's AH-X program in early 2010s. AH-64E won the competition.

AH-64E Apache Guardians operated by ROK Army

Photo Credit: Defense Media Agency

AH-1Z Viper

Photo Credit: Bell Helicopter

T-129 ATAK

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons

Sikorsky and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) offered armed versions of S-70i Black Hawk and MUH-1 Marineon utility helicopters. KAI claims 20mm nose turret developed for its Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) and Israeli ATGMs will be integrated into the MUH-1. 

Armed Black Hawk

Photo Credit: Sikorsky

20mm turret gun developed for LAH could be installed on MUH-1.

Photo Credit: Defense Media Agency

It is unknown at ths moment how much budget will be allocated for this project, but considering it cost the army 1.8 trillion won for 36 AH-64E, at least 1 trillion won is expected to be required to satisfy ROKMC's required number of aircraft.

ROKMC is reportedly the most interested in the AH-1Z Viper due to their experience with the aircraft during numerous joint USMC-ROKMC training exercises and the overall interoperability the aircraft could provide between the two forces. It's also the most 'marinized' aircraft out of all five.