KAI LAH

The KAI LAH (Light Armed Helicopter) is a 5-ton class twin engine helicopter currently under development by Korea Aerospace Industries designed to replace the Republic of Korea Army's (ROKA) aged MD500 Defender and AH-1S attack helicopters. It can be deployed in multiple missions such as light attack, close-air support, escort, and troop transport. The LAH conducted its first flight successfully in July 2019 and KAI aims to complete the development in 2022

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

Design

The LAH helicopter is armed with chin-mounted 20mm three-barreled turret gun and fitted with stub wing to carry 70 mm (2.8 in) rocket system and air-to-ground anti-tank guided missiles. LAH is also equipped with nose-mounted electro-optic/infrared sensors with targeting device and fuselage-mounted electro warfare system including RWR, LWR, MWR, and chaff/flare dispenser.[1]

ADD (Agency for Defense Development) and Hanwha developed a new anti-tank missile, initially called the TAipers (Tank Sniper) Light Armed Helicopter Air-to-Ground Missile (LAH-AGM), as the primary weapon for the LAH starting in 2015. Guided by a dual CCD TV and imaging infrared (IIR) seeker delivering a fire-and-forget capability as well as a fire, observe, and update mode using a fiber-optic data-link, it provides an anti-armor capability up to 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) away. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2022 with serial production to commence in 2023, coinciding with the introduction of the LAH into ROK service.[2][3] Later renamed Chungum, 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.[4]

Operational history

KAI has started cold weather testing at Yellowknife from December 2021 up to February 2022 in cooperation with Det’on Cho Logistics to provide logsitical assistance.[5] KAI has sent 40 engineers, pilots and support staff to Yellowknife for 10 weeks.[5]

Aircraft 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 [6] 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
  • 4 × "Chun-gum" Air-to-Ground Missile (2 on each side) or
  • 2 × 7-shot rocket launcher[7] Hydra 70 (1 launcher on each side)

References
  1. "KAI KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES, LTD". www.koreaaero.com. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  2. Wong, Kelvin (12 September 2016). "DX Korea 2016: Hanwha unveils 'Tank Sniper' guided air-to-surface missile for future South Korean army helo programme". Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on 2016-11-07. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  3. Hanwha's TAipers ATGM completed Critical Design Review – Airrecognition.com, 19 October 2017
  4. Udoshi, Rahul (7 February 2020). "Defexpo 2020: Development of Hanwha Defense's Chungum air-launched ATGM to be completed by end of 2020". Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  5. "Korea Aerospace Industries tests Light Armed Helicopter in Canadian cold".
  6. Arriel 2l2 Engine KAI LAH Helicopter
  7. LAU-131/A
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