Korea Aerospace Bags $308 Million DAPA Contract to Develop Amphibious Helicopter

The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on October 27 that it had signed a 440 billion won (US$308.7 million) "Amphibious Attack Helicopter System Development Project" with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)
The Amphibious Attack Helicopter System Development Project is meant to equip the Marine force with a suitable helicopter for amphibious attack and air fire support during ground operations. The project is expected to see the light of day by the 2026.
"As a result of the proposal evaluation in May , Korea Aerospace Industries Co. , Ltd. was selected (to build the helicopter), and after a negotiation period of about four months, the contract was signed in October, a DAPA release said today.
The Marine Corps amphibious attack helicopter domestic R&D project is on full-fledged trajectory, the announcement said.
When this system development project is completed, 20 amphibious attack helicopters will be deployed to the Marine Corps from the late 2020s.
The DAPA is planning to promote the project so that close cooperation with related organizations is achieved as the project begins in earnest.
The Head of the Helicopter Division of DAPA ( Army Brigadier General Lee Jong-hwa ) said, “With the development of an amphibious attack helicopter through this project, the Marines will have the ability to perform three-dimensional high-speed amphibious operations.” 

KAI currently manufactures the MUH-1, or Marine Utility Helicopter, better known as “Marineon.” It is the Surion-variant Amphibious helicopter that KAI developed to enhance the ability which the Marine Corps carries out the multi-dimensional high-speed land and take-off operations.

The 'Surion' helicopter is the basis for a number of version including the Marines, Police, Coast Guard, Utility and other special purpose applications.

Specifications of the proposed amphibious helicopter or any improvements over the MUH have not been disclosed.