On the 19th, at Mugeon-ri Training Ground in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Blackhawk (UH-60) helicopters from the U.S. Army’s 2nd Infantry Division and the ROK-U.S. Combined Division were seen landing at the target area. The photo was provided by the Army. Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Korean Air Lines are competing over a 1 trillion won project to upgrade Blackhawk helicopters. Both companies have teamed up with domestic and international defense companies to take on the challenge.
According to the defense industry on the 25th, the two companies submitted bid proposals to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) for the Blackhawk (UH/HH-60) helicopter upgrade project. The project involves upgrading the airframe structure of the Blackhawk helicopters, which were introduced in the 1990s, and digitalizing their avionics systems. A total of 961.3 billion won will be invested in upgrading the performance of 36 helicopters. DAPA plans to select a preferred negotiation partner by the end of April after reviewing the proposals.
Blackhawks are a key asset in various military operations, from air combat to troop transport. During the December 3 martial law incident last year, armed personnel from the Army Special Warfare Command used these helicopters to enter the National Assembly premises. The military currently operates a total of 144 of these helicopters, which were acquired from the American company Sikorsky. Some of the units used in Army special operations will undergo the first upgrades.
KAI is collaborating with Sikorsky, the original manufacturer, as well as Israeli defense company Elbit and Hanwha Systems. A KAI representative stated that when unexpected variables, such as airframe defects, arise during the project execution, cooperation with the original manufacturer is necessary for problem resolution. They referenced a past incident where the exclusion of the original manufacturer from the KF-16 fighter jet upgrade project led to a budget wastage of 100 billion won. In 2016, the Board of Audit and Inspection demanded the dismissal of the person responsible at the Ministry of Defense after DAPA’s selection of an unqualified company for the KF-16 project caused delays.
KAI’s experience in producing Korea’s first indigenous helicopter, the Surion, is a strong point. KAI started developing indigenous helicopters with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in 2006 and produced the first Korean-made helicopter in 2010. They have developed the airworthiness certification capability required to verify that helicopters are manufactured according to their designs, and have secured the development and testing infrastructure and skilled personnel necessary for upgrading helicopter performance.
Korean Air emphasizes its experience in directly producing Blackhawk helicopters. They have been manufacturing Blackhawks under license since 1990, having received the production technology from Sikorsky, and have supplied a total of 138 helicopters to the military. Korean Air claims that no other company in Korea matches its level of expertise in Blackhawk production and upgrades.
Korean Air is collaborating with U.S. aerospace company Collins and LIG Nex1. Korean Air handles system integration and design, testing, and delivery, while Collins and LIG Nex1 handle communications, navigation system development, and cockpit upgrades. Utilizing the existing Blackhawk production infrastructure allows simultaneous performance upgrades and maintenance, which is a significant advantage.
The project is expected to further enhance Korea’s defense industry’s capabilities in helicopter projects. Last year, KAI signaled the start of the export of Korean-made helicopters with the sale of two Surion helicopters to Iraq for 135.8 billion won. The government plans to actively promote exports of Korean-made helicopters, especially to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, this year. An industry insider expressed optimism that this competition will lead to stronger capabilities in the domestic defense industry’s helicopter sector, and that Korean-made helicopters are likely to join the ranks of “K-Defense” exports soon.