KAI to develop Korea's first mine-sweeper helicopter

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) is poised to start R&D on a minesweeper helicopter that specializes in removing underwater mines.

The company signed a 345-billion-won ($269 million) contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration on Thursday to develop a naval minesweeper helicopter system. The development period is 47 months, during which time one prototype will be produced.

It will be developed based on Marineon, a Marine Corps amphibious helicopter. The aim is to develop equipment for optimal minesweeping missions and an integrated avionics system suitable for aerial minesweeping while minimizing risk.

The minesweeping chopper uses upgraded domestic avionics systems and software applied to Surion, Marineon, and the Light-armed Helicopter.

"We expect a high degree of interoperability, as well as an increase in the rate of operation and a reduction in operating and maintenance costs," said a KAI official.

KAI plans to integrate three types of minesweeping mission equipment — laser mine-search equipment; an underwater self-propelled mine search vehicle, and unmanned mine clearance equipment — that search for, identify and clear mines.

The minesweeper helicopter, to be operated by the Navy, will take off and land at major ports, and on large landing ships used for amphibious mine-clearing operations, known as minelayer ships. In peacetime, it will be used for lifesaving missions as well as collecting undersea environmental data on ports and maritime routes.

KAI's development of a minesweeper helicopter is only the third in the world, after those of US-based Sikorsky Aircraft and Italy's Leonardo SpA.

"The minesweeper helicopter will be made using domestic avionics systems and software based on the superior mobility and performance of Marineon," said the same KAI official.

"We will greatly improve the Navy's maritime operational capabilities by installing and integrating anti-mine equipment," he added.

Write to Ik-Hwan Kim at lovepen@hankyung.com