South Korea’s defense sector marks a significant leap forward as the Defense Project Promotion Committee greenlights extensive plans for bolstering the nation’s maritime capabilities and advancing missile technology. Authorized by the state arms procurement agency, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the approval signifies a strategic move to overhaul South Korea’s Navy helicopter fleet. A staggering 2.87 trillion won ($2.23 billion) investment from 2025 to 2032 has been earmarked to replace the aging Lynx helicopters. The primary focus of this investment is to acquire cutting-edge maritime operations helicopters from overseas, elevating the Navy’s prowess in anti-submarine and anti-surface ship missions. These acquisitions are a direct response to fortify defenses against potential threats posed by North Korea’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
Notably, leading contenders for this significant upgrade are the MH-60R from U.S. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin and the NH-90 developed by France-based NHIndustries. These helicopters stand poised to revolutionize South Korea’s maritime security landscape. In a multifaceted approach to modernizing its helicopter fleet, the committee also gave the green light for a 740 billion-won initiative aimed at procuring new command helicopters from overseas between 2025 and 2030. Additionally, an 890 billion-won basic development plan is set to augment the capabilities of the military’s UH-60 and HH-60 special operations helicopters, spanning from next year to 2030. South Korea’s resolute stride towards enhancing its defense infrastructure underscores a proactive stance, ensuring preparedness against evolving security challenges while fostering technological advancements in its armed forces.
The Sikorsky MH-60 Seahawk (or Sea Hawk) is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant modifications are the folding main rotor blades and a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships. The U.S. Navy uses the H-60 airframe under the model designations SH-60B, SH-60F, HH-60H, MH-60R, and MH-60S. Able to deploy aboard any air-capable frigate, destroyer, cruiser, fast combat support ship, expeditionary transfer dock, amphibious assault ship, littoral combat ship or aircraft carrier, the Seahawk can handle anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), naval special warfare (NSW) insertion, search and rescue (SAR), combat search and rescue (CSAR), vertical replenishment (VERTREP), and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC).
The NHIndustries NH90 is a European medium-sized, twin-engine, multirole military helicopter. It was developed in response to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) requirements for a battlefield helicopter which would also be capable of being operated in naval environments. The NH90 was developed and is manufactured by NHIndustries, a collaborative company owned by Airbus Helicopters (formally Eurocopter) and Leonardo (formerly AgustaWestland) and Fokker Aerostructures. There are two main variants: the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) for army use and the navalised NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH); each customer typically has various alterations and customizations made to their own NH90 fleets, such as different weapons, sensors, and cabin arrangements, to meet their own specific requirements.
