South Korea announces investment for UAVs, MH-60R acquisition
South Korea aims to procure an additional batch of Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawks to replace its Westland Lynx Mk 99A fleet. (DAPA)
South Korea's Defense Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) has announced investments to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) and acquire additional Lockheed Martin (Sikorsky) MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the navy.
The decisions were made during a DAPA committee meeting on 15 September. According to DAPA, it will invest KRW2.16 trillion (USD1.5 billion) from 2027 to 2036 to develop a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) reconnaissance UAV for the RoKA's divisional-level units.
The investment will fund the domestic development of the platform, DAPA said, adding that the committee approved the programme's basic strategy following a re-examination of its performance requirements. The updated requirements build on a 2021 strategy for a reconnaissance VTOL UAV.
The revised programme aims to develop a UAV capable of operating in confined environments, particularly in mountainous areas, while providing surveillance capabilities “four times greater than existing divisional-level reconnaissance UAVs in the army”, DAPA said.
The committee also approved a KRW3.24 trillion programme to procure an unspecified number of MH-60R helicopters by 2032. The aircraft will replace the navy's ageing fleet of 22 Westland WG13 Lynx Mk 99A helicopters under the Maritime Operations Helicopter-II (MOH-II) programme.
The RoK Navy (RoKN) operates its Lynx helicopters in anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) roles, with the first aircraft entering service in 1999. DAPA first announced plans to replace the fleet in December 2023, when it approved a KRW2.87 trillion programme to procure replacement helicopters between 2025 and 2032.
DAPA's 15 September announcement that it has selected the MH-60R for the MOH-II programme indicates that negotiations with Lockheed Martin have been completed.
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