The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) officially delivered, on December 26, 2024, the first two units of the light (actually medium) combat helicopter LAH-1 Miron to the South Korean Armed Forces.
The ceremony took place at KAI’s headquarters in Sacheon, marking the beginning of deliveries under the contract signed with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
Multi-Million Dollar Contracts and Fleet Expansion
The initial contract, signed on December 23, 2022, includes the delivery of 10 LAH helicopters valued at 302 billion won (USD 235 million), with deliveries starting in December 2024. Additionally, in December 2023, DAPA awarded a follow-up contract worth 1.4 trillion won (USD 1.08 billion) for the production of a second batch of helicopters, with deliveries beginning in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The South Korean Army is expected to receive a total of 214 LAH-1 Miron helicopters by 2031. To support the program, DAPA had already approved a preliminary budget of 5.75 trillion won (approximately USD 4 billion) in November 2022.
Replacement of Older Helicopters
The LAH-1 Miron helicopter was developed to meet the requirements of the South Korean Army Aviation, formulated in 2010. Its objective is to replace the current fleet of Hughes MD 500MD Defender and Bell AH-1S Cobra helicopters. The new aircraft is equipped with anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and designed to operate in diverse combat scenarios.
Partnership with Airbus Helicopters
The LAH-1 Miron project was developed in collaboration with Airbus Helicopters, based on the well-known Airbus Helicopters H155 model (formerly called EC155, derived from the Aerospatiale AS 365 Dauphin II). The partnership between KAI and Airbus Helicopters was formalized on March 16, 2015, with the full transfer of H155 production to South Korea.
Technological and Strategic Expansion
The delivery of the first units marks a significant step in modernizing the South Korean Armed Forces, enhancing air defense capabilities, and solidifying KAI as a key player in the global military aircraft market.
Source and photos: koreaaero. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.