The South Korean military has initiated the UH/HH-60 Performance Enhancement Project, which aims to modernize the aging electronic systems and boost the engine performance of its medium-sized special operations helicopters. Korean Air and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) are gearing up for fierce competition over this 900 billion KRW ($620 million) project.
The industry predicts that this project will advance Korean rotorcraft technology and create opportunities for helicopters to become new K-defense export items.
On Wednesday, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) held a briefing session at the Gwacheon Government Complex on the UH/HH-60 Performance Enhancement Project.
The UH/HH-60 Performance Enhancement Project is a project to digitize the avionics system of the special operation helicopter UH-60 Black Hawk and its upgraded variant, HH-60, that the South Korean military has been operating since 1990 and to develop a fuselage structure with increased mobility. It plans to improve the operational performance capability and continue to operate.
The project will run for 84 months from the contract’s signing date and has a budget of approximately 961.3 billion KRW (approx. $662 million). The DAPA will open the bidding process on March 24 and plans to select a domestic defense contractor for the performance enhancement project in the first half of this year.
Korean Air and KAI are the frontrunners in this high-stakes competition. Korean Air has partnered with LIG Nex1, a specialist in avionics, electronic warfare, communications equipment, and sensor systems. Korean Air’s three decades of experience in licensed production of UH-60 helicopters since 1991 and extensive maintenance work for both South Korean and U.S. forces give them a significant edge.
KAI is partnering with Hanwha Systems for avionics systems and Israel’s Elbit Systems for modification development and systems integration. KAI’s experience designing and manufacturing indigenous helicopters like the KUH and LAH positions it well for the complex design analysis, production, and testing required to enhance the UH-60’s performance.
With major defense industry players entering the fray, the competition for this contract is expected to be intense. In addition to the potential 1 trillion KRW (about $690 million) project value, industry experts expect this project to establish rotorcraft as a new pillar in South Korea’s defense export strategic industry.
KAI made history last year by exporting its multi-role utility helicopter, the Surion (KUH), to Iraq. This marked South Korea’s entry into the global military helicopter export market.