KAI LAH

LAH (Light Armed Helicopter)
LAH prototype
Role	Armed helicopter
National origin	South Korea
Manufacturer	Korea Aerospace Industries Airbus Helicopters
Design group	Agency for Defense Development
First flight	4 July 2019
Status	Under development
Primary user	Republic of Korea Army
Number built	3 prototypes
Developed from	Airbus Helicopters H155

TheKAI LAH(Light Armed Helicopter) is a compact twin-engine combat helicopter that is being developed byKorea Aerospace Industries(KAI).

The LAH has been developed from theEurocopter EC155following an agreement between the multinational manufacturerAirbus Helicoptersand KAI made in 2015. It is capable of performing multiple mission roles including light attack,close air support,escort, and troop transport duties, replacing both theMD500 DefenderandAH-1S Cobrahelicopters of theRepublic of Korea Army(ROKA). On 4 July 2019, the LAH conducted itsmaiden flight,KAI reportedly aims to complete its development during 2022. The company has prompted several conceptual variants of the LAH, including anunmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) and a troop-transport Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) model.

Development

Background

The origins of the LAH can be traced back to theEurocopter EC155,a mid-sized civil utility helicopter produced by the multinational manufacturerAirbus Helicopters.During 2015, Airbus Helicopters andKorean Aerospace Industries(KAI) jointly announced an agreement to transfer principle manufacturing activity of the EC155 toSouth Korea;under this arrangement, KAI would become the sole manufacturer of the type after 2018, and both firms shall be jointly involved in the international marketing and further development of the type. Furthermore, the EC155 served as the basis for two programmes headed by KAI: TheLight Civil Helicopter(LCH) and Light Armed Helicopter (LAH).

At the time of the agreement, Airbus stated that it foresaw demand within South Korea for 100 LCHs and 214 LAHs, and estimates an international market of 300–400 LAH versions to replace legacy attack helicopters. The LAH is expected to replace both theMD Helicopters MD 500 DefenderandBell AH-1J/S Cobrahelicopters operated by theRepublic of Korea Army.Furthermore, KAI has declared its hope to sell the LAH overseas.In addition to KAI, South Korea'sDefense Acquisition Program Administration(DAPA) along with several other South Korean agencies have given their support to the project.Furthermore, numerous European suppliers are also involved in the programme; in June 2016, the French firmSafran Groupwere selected to provide theTurbomeca Arrielpowerplant for both the LAH and LCH.

Design

The LAH features numerous changes from the EC155 it is derived from, these include a new cockpit, improved gearbox, and redesigned rotor blades. Furthermore, LAH is capable of using multiple new armaments, has been furnished with survivability equipment, and has the ability to carry up to ten fully-equipped troops.The LAH has been designed to perform both attack and reconnaissance missions.The flight system include a 4-axis automatic flight control system (AFCS), while the dynamic systems are designed to minimise both noise and vibration. Crashworthyself-sealing fuel tanksare also fitted.

The LAH has been equipped with various avionics and apparatus to support its operations; these include a nose-mounted electro-optic/infrared sensor package, an integrated target acquisition/designation system, and a self-protection/electronic warfaresuite, which includes aradar warning receiver(RWR),laser warning receiver(LWR), missile warning receiver (MWR), andchaff/flaredispensers.Its self-protection systems are reportedly designed to guard againstman-portable air-defense systems(MANPADS).A precision navigation system has been included, which is reportedly resistant to hostileGPSjamming. The pilots are provided withhelmet-mounted displaysintegrated with the fire control system.

The LAH is armed with a single chin-mounted 20mm three-barreledturretgun and fitted with stub wings for carrying both 70 mm (2.8 in) non-guided rockets and air-to-groundanti-tank missiles.TheAgency for Defense Development(ADD) andHanwhadeveloped a new anti-tank missile, initially referred to as theTAipers(Tank Sniper) Light Armed Helicopter Air-to-Ground Missile (LAH-AGM), as the LAH's primary weapon. Guided by a dualCCD TVandimaging infrared(IIR) seeker delivering afire-and-forgetcapability as well as a fire, observe and update mode using afiber-opticdata-link,it provides an anti-armor capability up to 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) away. Serial production of the missile is expected sometime in 2023, coinciding with the LAH's introduction.Later renamedChungumArchived2022-08-17 at theWayback Machine,the missile is 120 mm (4.7 in) in diameter, weighs 16 kg (35 lb), can fly at 200 m/s (720 km/h; 450 mph), and is equipped with a tandem shaped-charge warhead with impact or time delay fuses. The LAH can carry four Chungums, two on each side.Development of the missile was completed in December 2022.In 2021, KAI andIsrael Aerospace Industries(IAI) signed a separate memorandum of understanding to developloitering munitionsthat may be used on the LAH.

Flight test programme

In December 2018, the first prototype was unveiled. In April 2019, the LCH performed its first engine ground test.

On 4 July 2019, the first prototype performed itsmaiden flight;on 10 December 2019, it was followed by the second prototype.During December 2020, the LAH was declared to be fit for combat on a provisional basis by DAPA.In April 2021, KAI stated that both the 20mm cannon and 70mm rockets had been integrated with the LAH's target acquisition designation sight, and that testing of the air-to-ground missile would proceed within the year.

Between December 2021 and February 2022, cold weather testing of the LAH was conducted atYellowknife,Canada,performing over 40 flights and testing 165 items over the course of nine weeks.DAPA announced on 18 February 2022 that these tests had successfully verified the helicopter's ability to withstand cold weather conditions without impacting either its manoeuvrability and general performance.

The company has also conceptualised an unmanned version of the LAH, which it promoted as intended to work in coordination with a manned LAH.In October 2021 the South Korean government issued a contract for development of the unmanned LAH.During 2022, the LAH's manned-unmanned teaming capability was formally evaluated. KAI has stated its intention to equip the helicopter with a canister-launchedunmanned aerial vehicle(UAV).

In September 2022, KAI unveiled a new variant, the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), which is intended to support operations byspecial forces;it is based on the LAH, but has been stripped of non-essential equipment and its troop-carrying capability maximised, not only using the internal cabin but also outboard benches akin to those used on theBoeing MH-6M Little Bird.

On 23 December 2022, DAPA signed a 302 billion won (US$235 million) deal with KAI to begin producing 10 LAH units and start deliveries in December 2024.Airbus Helicopters and KAI agreed to start serial production in August 2023.

Specifications

Data fromKorea Aerospace Industries

General characteristics

• Crew:2 (pilots)
• Capacity:2 x 20mm Magazines (Cabin)
• Length:14.3 m (46 ft 11 in)
• Width:3.9 m (12 ft 10 in) (fuselage)
• Height:4.3 m (14 ft 1 in)
• Empty weight:3,400 kg (7,496 lb)
• Gross weight:4,950 kg (10,913 lb)
• Max takeoff weight:4,920 kg (10,847 lb)
• Powerplant:2 ×HAS-Arriel 2L2turboshaft engines, Take-off Power, 770 kW (1,030 hp) each
• Main rotor diameter:12.6 m (41 ft 4 in)
• Main rotor area:124.7 m²(1,342 sq ft)

Performance

• Maximum speed:243 km/h (151 mph, 131 kn)
• Range:857 km (533 mi, 463 nmi)
• Ferry range:985 km (612 mi, 532 nmi)
• Service ceiling:4,572 m (15,000 ft)
• Rate of climb:8.9 m/s (1,750 ft/min)

Armament

• 1 × 20mmM197electric cannon three-barreled electricGatling-typerotary cannon
• 4 × "Chun-gum" Air-to-Ground Missile (2 on each side) or
• 2 × seven-shot rocket launcherHydra 70(1 launcher on each side)

External links

• https://www.koreaaero.com/EN/Business/LAH.aspx