Maiden Flight of South Korea’s Marine Corps Amphibious Assault Helicopter

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced the maiden flight of the Marine Corps amphibious assault helicopter prototype at Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI) in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, on January 15.

The event marks a key phase in the development of the helicopter, which aims to support South Korea's Marine Corps in amphibious operations.

The prototype is based on the domestically produced Marineon utility helicopter (MUH), which itself is derived from the Surion platform. By integrating avionics and armament systems designed for the light armed helicopter (LAH), the new helicopter aims to provide enhanced capabilities for amphibious missions.

Development of the helicopter began in 2022, with the completion of three prototypes by 2024. The first flight test took place in December 2024, following ground tests conducted earlier in the year. Full-scale evaluations, scheduled for 2025, will focus on performance, safety, and mission-readiness, with the goal of completing development by the latter half of 2026.

The amphibious assault helicopter is intended to serve a dual role. It will provide fire support for the Marineon amphibious transport helicopter during enemy raids and deliver close air support during ground operations. This capability is seen as significant for strengthening South Korea's defense posture, particularly in the northwestern region, which is considered strategically sensitive.

Brigadier General Koh Hyung-seok, head of DAPA’s Helicopter Business Division, highlighted the project’s role in enhancing the Marine Corps' air fire support capabilities and improving readiness for potential surprise attacks in the northwestern 5-degree region.

During a 20-minute celebratory flight, the prototype demonstrated its flight control performance and stability, performing maneuvers such as taxiing, takeoff, hovering, circling, and various directional flights at an altitude of about 30 meters. These tests were part of an ongoing assessment of the helicopter’s flight stability and control.

KAI plans to conduct further tests in 2025 to verify flight speed, altitude, and hovering performance, as well as the operational capability of the weapon systems, including machine guns, rockets, air-to-ground guided missiles (Cheongeom), and air-to-air guided missiles. These tests are intended to assess the helicopter's effectiveness in strike roles against both ground and aerial threats.

The new helicopter’s design ensures high compatibility with the Marineon, which is currently in operation. This compatibility is expected to streamline pilot training and allow for more efficient support throughout the lifecycle of the helicopter.

By August 2026, KAI aims to complete the system development and demonstrate the helicopter’s full operational capabilities, including strike capabilities against enemy aircraft.