South Korea Launches UH/HH-60 Helicopter Upgrade Project

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has launched the system development phase of the UH/HH-60 helicopter performance improvement project.

The agency held a kickoff meeting on September 9 at the Korean Air Tech Center in Busan.

Under this KRW 994.3 billion ($715 million) project, the UH-60 and HH-60 helicopters, currently deployed by the Army and Air Force for special operations, will be upgraded into multi-role platforms. The upgrade will replace analog cockpits with digital systems featuring electronic maps and multifunction displays, while adding automatic hovering, obstacle warning, and enhanced communication and navigation equipment.

Survivability will also be improved through radar warning receivers and integrated survival management systems. The initiative is expected to drive the domestic development of more than 50 components, reducing dependence on imports while expanding the local defense parts industry.

Deployment of the modernized helicopters is scheduled to begin in 2029.