Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is the first in South Korea to begin research and development of minesweeping helicopters specialized in removing mines, which are underwater mines.
KAI signed a contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration on the 22nd to develop a system for naval minesweeping helicopters worth KRW 345 billion. The development period is 47 months, and one prototype is produced.
Based on Marineon, an amphibious helicopter for the Marine Corps, it aims to develop optimal minesweeping mission equipment and avionics system integrated development suitable for air minesweeping while minimizing development risks.
The minesweeping helicopters to be developed by KAI use upgraded domestic avionics systems and software applied to Surion, Marineon, and LAH. Interoperability is expected, as well as increased utilization and reduced operating and maintenance costs.
KAI plans to systemically integrate three types of minesweeping mission equipment that search, identify, and handle mines.
The three types of minesweeper mission equipment are laser mine search equipment, underwater autonomous mine search vehicle, and unmanned mine handling equipment.
Mine search and identification uses laser mine search equipment to detect mines in shallow water or moored mines at an early time, and mines in deep water are searched for using autonomous underwater mine seekers.
Identified mines are identified and destroyed by operators using unmanned mine handling equipment operated by optical cables.
KAI is the third company in the world to develop minesweeping helicopters, following Sikorsky in the US and Leonardo in Italy.
The South Korean minesweeping helicopters, which will be operated by the Navy, will take off and land at major ports on land, minelayers, or large landing ships used for amphibious operations, to clear mines.
