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Home» Event News» MADEX 2019»MADEX 2019: KAI pitching new Surion Mine Countermeasures Helicopter variant to ROK Navy
A scale model of the KAI MCH helicopter proposed to the ROK Navy

MADEX 2019: KAI pitching new Surion Mine Countermeasures Helicopter variant to ROK Navy

At MADEX 2019 in Busan (South Korea), a new Mine Countermeasures Helicopter (MCH) variant is being pitched by Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) to answer the ROK Navy requirement for a new airborne countermeasures capability - Naval News.

Nathan Gain 22 Oct 2019

The ROK Navy issued a requirement for the acquisition of 10 helicopter-based mine countermeasure systems. Besides the KAI MCH proposal, the Lockheed Martin MH-60 and the AgustaWestland AW101 are expecting a formal decision for next year. 

The MCH deploys three major systems: the Northrop Grumman Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS), an Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS) and an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). All three systems is being operated from an integrated mission console.

KAI’s MCH helicopter will be able to store AUVs in its cargo bay before launching them in the minefield

If selected by the ROK Navy, the Northrop Grumman ALMDS will reach a second export customer after Japan purchased four systems in 2011 for use on the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force MCH-101 helicopters. According to Northrop Grumman, the AMLDS detects, classifies and localizes near-surface, moored sea mines, utilizing Streak Tube Imaging Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR). It features nine sub-systems: central electronics chassis, laser transmitter unit, laser electrical unit, pod pressurization system, environmental control system, power distribution unit, four receiver sensor assemblies, hardware control unit and pod housing. 

The AMNS has not yet been selected by KAI, but ECA Group’s K-STER C or Atlas Elektronik’s Seafox would be relevant options, a KAI representative told Naval News. 

In addition to the mine countermeasure mission, the MCH helicopter will offer a broader scope of secondary missions thanks to the 3,6 tons payload. It will allow to add a wide array of additional combat support tasks. Among other mission systems, the MCH is equipped with an EO/IR gyrostabilized gimbal and a full digital glass cockpit.The MCH variant keeps the same twin-engine propulsion scheme based on the Hanwha Techwin/General Electric T700/701 K 1,800 Shp turboshaft engine. The MCH rotorcraft has a maximum range of 717 km and an endurance of about 4 h, says KAI. 

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense has more than 220 Surion helicopters on order, among which 130 have been delivered so far, including to the police and ROK Marine forces. Two will be handed over to the ROK Coast Guard. 

Helicopter KAI MADEX MADEX 2019 Mine Warfare Northrop Grumman ROK Navy South Korea Surion 2019-10-22
Tags Helicopter KAI MADEX MADEX 2019 Mine Warfare Northrop Grumman ROK Navy South Korea Surion
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Authors

Posted by : Nathan Gain
Nathan is based in Namur, Belgium. He holds an MA in modern history with a minor in international relations from the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL – Belgium). Fascinated by military history he naturally turned to the defense sector after graduating and is particularly interested in Northern European and Belgian defense issues as well as in anything related to naval aviation.

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