Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) conducted cold-weather testing on their Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) at the Yellowknife Airport (YZF). It arrived at YZF on a massive cargo aircraft, the Antonov 124. The LAH is a military aircraft currently under development by KAI. As one of the best Arctic cold-weather testing destinations, YZF will continue to work with private partners and leaders of the aviation industry to attract more cold-weather testing opportunities. KAI sent 40 engineers, pilots, and support staff to Yellowknife for 10 weeks which is estimated to inject two million dollars. While the LAH is an armed aircraft, it will be tested without live munitions. This is YZF’s first cold-weather testing partnership with KAI. YZF and KAI first started collaborating in 2018 to secure this opportunity. Testing started on December 6, 2021, continued until early February 2022.
The KAI LAH (Light Armed Helicopter) is a 5-ton class twin-engine helicopter currently under development by Korea Aerospace Industries designed to replace the Republic of Korea Army’s (ROKA) aged MD500 Defender and AH-1S attack helicopters. It can be deployed in multiple missions such as a light attack, close-air support, escort, and troop transport. The LAH conducted its first flight successfully in July 2019 and KAI aims to complete the development in 2022. The LAH helicopter is armed with a chin-mounted 20mm three-barreled turret gun and fitted with a stub wing to carry a 70mm(2.75inches) rocket system, and air-to-ground anti-and guided missiles. LAH is also equipped with nose-mounted electro-optic/infrared sensors with targeting device and fuselage-mounted electro warfare system including RWR, LWR, MWR, and chaff/flare dispenser.
ADD (Agency for Defense Development) and Hanwha developed a new anti-tank missile, initially called the TAipers (Tank Sniper) Light Armed Helicopter Air-to-Ground Missile (LAH-AGM), as the primary weapon for the LAH starting in 2015. Guided by a dual CCD TV and imaging infrared (IIR) seeker delivering a fire-and-forget capability as well as a fire, observe, and update mode using a fiber-optic data link, it provides an anti-armor capability up to 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) away. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2022 with serial production to commence in 2023, coinciding with the introduction of the LAH into ROK service. Later renamed Chungum, the missile is 120 mm (4.7 in) in diameter, weighs 16 kg (35 lb), can fly at 200 m/s (720 km/h; 450 mph), and is equipped with a tandem shaped-charge warhead with impact or time-delay fuses. The LAH can carry four Chungums, two on each side.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is a South Korean aerospace and defense company. It was originally established as a joint venture of Samsung Aerospace, Daewoo Heavy Industries’ aerospace division, and Hyundai Space and Aircraft Company (HYSA). During 1999, KAI became more independent of its founding members, acquiring their aerospace interests at the behest of the South Korean government following the financial troubles of these companies that had resulted from the 1997 Asian financial crisis.KAI has developed various aerospace products, including the Korea Space Launch Vehicle(KSLV)-II and various satellites. It has been involved in the production of several foreign-designed aircraft via licensing arrangements, such as the MBB/Kawasaki BK 117, MBB Bo-105 KLH, and the KF-16. KAI has also developed and produced its aircraft designs, including KT-1 Woongbi, T-50 Golden Eagle training aircraft, KF-21 Boramae (formerly known as KF-X). KC-100 Naraon general aviation aircraft, and KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter.
