Seoul: The state arms procurement agency has successfully conducted the first flight of a new helicopter prototype aimed at conducting mine countermeasure operations, officials said Tuesday, in a move expected to bolster the country's maritime security capabilities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the flight took place earlier this month, following a ground test in March after the prototype was built last year, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced. DAPA plans to complete the development of the helicopter in the second half of next year after conducting additional technical and safety evaluations and flight tests.
The new helicopter, based on the Surion utility helicopter, is equipped with mine countermeasure features, such as a laser mine detection system, an autonomous underwater vehicle, and an unmanned mine disposal vehicle. If deployed after development, the helicopter is expected to neutralize enemy-planted mines at major ports and conduct naval operations, such as securing maritime transportation routes, according to DAPA.
Separately, the arms agency stated that it has completed the deployment of new rotary-wing helicopters to more effectively and safely train Army and Navy pilots. A total of 40 Bell 505 helicopters, manufactured by U.S. aerospace manufacturer Bell, have been deployed to the military to replace the aging fleet of 500MD and UH-1H helicopters, DAPA reported.