In the aftermath of the catastrophic Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash at Muan International Airport on Dec. 29, 2024, which claimed the lives of 179 people, the South Korean military has taken swift action to ensure the safety of its own fleet of Boeing 737-based aircraft. The cause of the devastating accident remains under scrutiny, with investigators focusing on a potential issue with the landing gear.
Continue reading “South Korean military inspects Boeing 737s after fatal crash”
KAI delivers first production LAH-1 helicopters to South Korean Army
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has achieved a major milestone with the delivery of the first two production LAH-1 ‘Mir-on’ light armed helicopters to the Republic of Korea Army. This event marks the culmination of a development program that began in June 2015, and the successful completion of the development phase in November 2022. The initial delivery is part of a broader plan to fully integrate the helicopters into the Army’s forces by 2031, replacing the ageing 500MD and AH-1S Cobra fleets.
Photo: KAI
Continue reading “KAI delivers first production LAH-1 helicopters to South Korean Army”
Israeli troops in Syria recover rotor head of 1974 crash
Israeli forces operating in southern Syria have recovered a key component of an Israeli Air Force (IAF) helicopter that crashed more than half a century ago. The discovery, announced on Dec. 23, brings a sense of closure to a tragic incident from the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The recovered part is the rotor head of an SA 321 Super Frelon helicopter, known in the IAF as the “Wasp”. This particular aircraft, designated number 17 in the IAF’s 114th Squadron, was involved in a deadly crash on Apr. 27, 1974, during a rescue mission.
Photo: Israel Defense Forces
Continue reading “Israeli troops in Syria recover rotor head of 1974 crash”
KAI inks deal to supply Surion helicopters to Iraq
Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) has secured its first export order for the KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter. The deal, valued at approximately $93.4million, involves the sale of the domestically developed helicopter to the Iraqi government. This contract not only represents a major win for KAI but also signals the growing international interest in South Korean defence technology.
Photo by ROKAF (2013), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Continue reading “KAI inks deal to supply Surion helicopters to Iraq”
Ebbing ANGB welcomes first Polish F-35s, kicking off multinational training program
Poland’s first two Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs aircraft arrived at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on Dec. 23. This event initiates a new chapter in the F-35 Foreign Military Sales training program.
aircraft at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort SMith, Arkansas on December 23, 2024. This marks a significant milestone in the Foreign Military Sales training program and highlights the strong partnership between the U.S. and Poland. The aircraft’s arrival will kickstart Polish pilot training at Ebbing ANGB, beginning in January 2025. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by A1C Miles Chrisman)
Continue reading “Ebbing ANGB welcomes first Polish F-35s, kicking off multinational training program”