South Korea completes Marine Attack Helicopter development

Production of the KAI Marine Attack Helicopter is scheduled to start in 2027. (Janes)

South Korea has completed system development of its Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH), the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on 28 October.

DAPA marked the milestone at Korea Aerospace Industries' (KAI's) facilities in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province. KAI is expected to start producing the platform in 2027.

The MAH made its first test flight in December 2024. DAPA said it subsequently completed weapons-firing, shipboard operations, and environmental tests. The agency added that the helicopter was assessed as suitable for combat in July 2026, when its military specifications were established. It received airworthiness certification in August.

DAPA said the trials demonstrated the MAH's ability to operate weapons against ground and airborne targets. The helicopter also demonstrated the corrosion resistance and shipboard operating capability required for maritime operations, according to the agency.

The MAH is an armed derivative of KAI's MUH-1 Marineon, which is based on the KUH-1 Surion. The MAH is intended to escort Marineon helicopters during Republic of Korea Marine Corps amphibious operations and provide fire support to ground forces. DAPA awarded KAI a contract to develop the MAH in October 2022.

The helicopter retains the Marineon's medium-class airframe but adds stub wings for external stores, a nose-mounted targeting system, and a chin-mounted gun.

According to specifications previously provided by KAI to Janes , the MAH has a maximum take-off weight of 8,709 kg. It measures 19 m long with its rotors turning and 5 m high. Its width extends to 6.1 m across the stub wings.

Once operational, DAPA expects the MAH to support airborne elements of Marine Corps amphibious operations alongside its existing Marineon helicopters.