The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in Korea is partnering with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) on a $271.4 million project to develop a mine sweeping helicopter by 2026.
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U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. John L. Kline, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The primary goal of the project is to enhance the South Korean Navy’s countermine capabilities, which refers to the ability to detect, locate, and neutralize mines that have been placed in the water. By developing its own mine sweeping helicopters, South Korea will be able to increase its naval capabilities and protect its shipping lanes more effectively. This is important as 99 percent of South Korea’s imports and exports are transported through maritime trade. Additionally, the use of mine sweeping helicopters allows for more efficient and effective mine clearance operations, as they can cover a wider area and operate in a variety of conditions.
Once the mine sweeping helicopters are developed, an unspecified number of them will be deployed to a mine sweeping helicopter battalion that the Navy plans to create by 2030.
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