KAI LAH
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The KAI LAH (Light Armed Helicopter) is a compact twin-engine combat helicopter that is being developed by
Korea Aerospace Industries Korea Aerospace Industries (Korean: 한국항공우주산업, Hanja: 韓國航空宇宙産業) (KAI) is a South Korean aerospace and defense company. It was originally established as a joint venture of Samsung Aerospace, Daewoo Heavy Industries' ...
(KAI). The LAH has been developed from the
Eurocopter EC155 The Eurocopter EC155 (now Airbus Helicopters H155) is a long-range medium-lift passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter from its Dauphin family for civil aviation use. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 13 passenge ...
following an agreement between the multinational manufacturer
Airbus Helicopters Airbus Helicopters SAS (formerly Eurocopter Group) is the helicopter manufacturer, helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus. It is the largest in the industry in terms of revenues and turbine helicopter deliveries. Its head office is located ...
and KAI made in 2015. It is capable of performing multiple mission roles including light attack,
close air support In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as air action such as air strikes by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets near friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with fire and moveme ...
, escort, and troop transport duties, replacing both the
MD500 Defender The McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD 500 Defender is a light multi-role military helicopter based on the MD 500 light utility helicopter and OH-6 Cayuse Light Observation Helicopter. Design and development The original OH-6 Cayuse heli ...
and AH-1S Cobra helicopters of the
Republic of Korea Army The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA; ko, 대한민국 육군; Hanja: 大韓民國 陸軍; RR: ''Daehanminguk Yuk-gun''), also known as the ROK Army or South Korean Army, is the army of South Korea, responsible for ground-based warfare. It is the l ...
's (ROKA). On 4 July 2019, the LAH conducted its
maiden flight The maiden flight, also known as first flight, of an aircraft is the first occasion on which it leaves the ground under its own power. The same term is also used for the first launch of rockets. The maiden flight of a new aircraft type is alwa ...
, KAI reportedly aims to complete its development during 2022. The company has prompted several conceptual variants of the LAH, including an
unmanned aerial vehicle An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controller ...
(UAV) and a troop-transport Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) model.


Development


Background

The origins of the LAH can be traced back to the
Eurocopter EC155 The Eurocopter EC155 (now Airbus Helicopters H155) is a long-range medium-lift passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter from its Dauphin family for civil aviation use. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 13 passenge ...
, a mid-sized civil utility helicopter produced by the multinational manufacturer
Airbus Helicopters Airbus Helicopters SAS (formerly Eurocopter Group) is the helicopter manufacturer, helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus. It is the largest in the industry in terms of revenues and turbine helicopter deliveries. Its head office is located ...
. During 2015, Airbus Helicopters and
Korean Aerospace Industries Korea Aerospace Industries (Korean: 한국항공우주산업, Hanja: 韓國航空宇宙産業) (KAI) is a South Korean aerospace and defense company. It was originally established as a joint venture of Samsung Aerospace, Daewoo Heavy Industries' ...
(KAI) jointly announced an agreement to transfer principle manufacturing activity of the EC155 to
South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
; 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: The Light 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 the MD Helicopters MD 500 Defender and Bell AH-1J/S Cobra helicopters operated by the
Republic of Korea Army The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA; ko, 대한민국 육군; Hanja: 大韓民國 陸軍; RR: ''Daehanminguk Yuk-gun''), also known as the ROK Army or South Korean Army, is the army of South Korea, responsible for ground-based warfare. It is the l ...
. Furthermore, KAI has declared its hope to sell the LAH overseas. In addition to KAI, South Korea's
Defense Acquisition Program Administration The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) was founded on January 1, 2006 as part of a comprehensive reform of the defense acquisition project, including the introduction and development of weapons, and is a central administrative agenc ...
(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 firm
Safran Group Safran S.A. is a French multinational company that designs, develops and manufactures aircraft engines, rocket engines as well as various aerospace and defense-related equipment or their components. It was formed by a merger between SNECMA and ...
were selected to provide the
Turbomeca Arriel The Turbomeca Arriel is a series of French turboshaft engines that first ran in 1974.Gunston 1989, p.170. Delivering , over 12,000 Arriel engines have been produced from 1978 to 2018, logging more than 50 million flight hours for 40 helicopter ap ...
powerplant 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. Crashworthy
self-sealing fuel tank A self-sealing fuel tank is a type of fuel tank, typically used in aircraft fuel tanks or fuel bladders, that prevents them from leaking fuel and igniting after being damaged. Typical self-sealing tanks have multiple layers of rubber and reinforc ...
s are 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 warfare Electronic warfare (EW) is any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EM spectrum) or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponen ...
suite, which includes a
radar warning receiver Radar warning receiver (RWR) systems detect the radio emissions of radar systems. Their primary purpose is to issue a warning when a radar signal that might be a threat is detected, like a fighter aircraft's fire control radar. The warning can th ...
(RWR),
laser warning receiver A laser warning receiver is a type of warning system used as a passive military defence. It detects, analyzes, and locates directions of laser emissionsPDF version4.53 MB) from laser guidance systems and laser rangefinders. Then it alerts the cre ...
(LWR), MWR, and
chaff Chaff (; ) is the dry, scaly protective casing of the seeds of cereal grains or similar fine, dry, scaly plant material (such as scaly parts of flowers or finely chopped straw). Chaff is indigestible by humans, but livestock can eat it. In agri ...
/
flare A flare, also sometimes called a fusée, fusee, or bengala in some Latin-speaking countries, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a bright light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for distress signaling, illumination, ...
dispensers. Its self-protection systems are reportedly designed to guard against
man-portable air-defense system Man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS or MPADS) are portable surface-to-air missiles. They are guided weapons and are a threat to low-flying aircraft, especially helicopters. Overview MANPADS were developed in the 1950s to provide military ...
s (MANPADS). A precision navigation system has been included, with has reportedly been resistant to hostile
GPS The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a Radionavigation-satellite service, satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of t ...
jamming. The pilots are provided with
helmet-mounted display A helmet-mounted display (HMD) is a device used in aircraft to project information to the pilot's eyes. Its scope is similar to that of head-up displays (HUD) on an aircrew's visor or reticle. An HMD provides the pilot with situation awareness, ...
s integrated with the fire control system. The LAH is armed with a single chin-mounted 20mm three-barreled
turret Turret may refer to: * Turret (architecture), a small tower that projects above the wall of a building * Gun turret, a mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon * Objective turret, an indexable holder of multiple lenses in an optical microscope * Mi ...
gun and fitted with stub wings for carrying both non-guided rockets and air-to-ground
anti-tank missile An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) or anti-armor guided weapon is a Missile guidance, guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy Armoured fighting vehicle, heavily armored military v ...
s. The
Agency for Defense Development The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) is the South Korean national agency for research and development in defense technology, funded by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). It was established in August 1970 under the banner ...
(ADD) and
Hanwha , former_name = Korea Explosives Group , type = Public , traded_as = , industry = Conglomorate , founded = , founder = Kim Chong-hee , hq_location_city = Seoul , hq_location_country = South Korea , area_served = Global , key_people = ...
developed of a new
anti-tank missile An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) or anti-armor guided weapon is a Missile guidance, guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy Armoured fighting vehicle, heavily armored military v ...
, initially referred to as the ''TAipers'' (Tank Sniper) Light Armed Helicopter Air-to-Ground Missile (LAH-AGM), as the LAH's primary weapon. Guided by a dual CCD TV and
imaging infrared Infrared thermography (IRT), thermal video and/or thermal imaging, is a process where a thermal camera captures and creates an image of an object by using infrared radiation emitted from the object in a process, which are examples of infrared i ...
(IIR) seeker delivering a
fire-and-forget Fire-and-forget is a type of missile guidance which does not require further external intervention after launch such as illumination of the target or wire guidance, and can hit its target without the launcher being in line-of-sight of the targe ...
capability as well as a fire, observe, and update mode using a
fiber-optic An optical fiber, or optical fibre in Commonwealth English, is a flexible, transparent fiber made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of a human hair. Optical fibers are used most often as a means t ...
data-link A data link is the means of connecting one location to another for the purpose of transmitting and receiving digital information (data communication). It can also refer to a set of electronics assemblies, consisting of a transmitter and a recei ...
, it provides an anti-armor capability up to away. Serial production of the missile is expected sometime in 2023, coinciding with the LAH's introduction. Later rename
Chungum
the missile is in diameter, weighs , can fly at , 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 and
Israel Aerospace Industries Israel Aerospace Industries (Hebrew: התעשייה האווירית לישראל ''ha-ta'asiya ha-avirit le-yisra'el'') or IAI (תע"א) is Israel's major aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial and astronautic systems for both mi ...
(IAI) signed a separate memorandum of understanding to develop a
loitering munition A loitering munition (also known as a suicide droneLoitering Muniti ...
s that 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 its
maiden flight The maiden flight, also known as first flight, of an aircraft is the first occasion on which it leaves the ground under its own power. The same term is also used for the first launch of rockets. The maiden flight of a new aircraft type is alwa ...
; 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 at
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,
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, performing over 40 flights and testing 165 items over the course of nine weeks. According to South Korea's
Defense Acquisition Program Administration The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) was founded on January 1, 2006 as part of a comprehensive reform of the defense acquisition project, including the introduction and development of weapons, and is a central administrative agenc ...
(DAPA) announced on 18 February that the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) these tests has successfully verified the helicopter's ability to withstand cold weather conditions without impacting either its manoeuvrability and general performance. During 2022, the LAH's manned-unmanned teaming capability was formally evaluated. KAI has stated its intention to equip the helicopter with a canister-launched
unmanned aerial vehicle An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controller ...
(UAV). The company has also conceptualised an unmanned version of the LAH, which it promoted as intending to work in coordination with a manned LAH to minimise human losses on the battlefield. The South Korean government has issued a contract pertaining to the development of the unmanned LAH. In September 2022, KAI unveiled a new variant, the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), which is intended to support operations by
special forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...
; 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 the Boeing MH-6M Little Bird.


Specifications

General characteristics * Crew: 2 (pilots) *Capacity: 2 x 20mm Magazines (Cabin) * Length: 14.6 m (47.9 ft) * Height: 4.35 m (14 ft 3 in) * Empty weight: 3,400 kg (7,495 lb) * Max takeoff weight: 4920 kg (10,847 lb) * Powerplant: 2 x 1,024 shp turboshaft engines * Main rotor diameter: 12.6 m (41 ft 4 in) * Main rotor area: 124.7 m2 (1,342 sq ft) Performance * Max. speed: 243 km/h (151 m/h, 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 × 20mm M197 electric cannon three-barreled electric Gatling-type
rotary cannon A rotary cannon, rotary autocannon, rotary gun or Gatling cannon, is any large-caliber multiple-barreled automatic firearm that uses a Gatling-type rotating barrel assembly to deliver a sustained saturational direct fire at much greater rate ...
* 4 × "Chun-gum" Air-to-Ground Missile (2 on each side) or * 2 × seven-shot rocket launcher
Hydra 70 The Hydra 70 rocket is a diameter fin-stabilized unguided rocket used primarily in the air-to-ground role. It can be equipped with a variety of warheads, and in more recent versions, guidance systems for point attacks. The Hydra is widely used by ...
(1 launcher on each side)


References


External links

* https://www.koreaaero.com/EN/Business/LAH.aspx {{KAI aircraft South Korean helicopters KAI aircraft 2010s helicopters South Korean military aircraft Aircraft first flown in 2019