South Korea launches UH/HH-60P upgrade programme

A South Korean UH-60P Black Hawk helicopter at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea in 2016. South Korea is preparing to upgrade a limited number of UH/HH-60P helicopters for extended service. (US Army/Captain William Leasure)

South Korea has launched a programme to upgrade a limited number of Sikorsky UH/HH-60P military helicopters into multi-purpose platforms capable of operating in future battlefield environments, the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on 10 September.

The project, which will cost KRW994.3 billion (USD714 million), will upgrade existing analog cockpits to digital cockpits that are equipped with digital maps and multifunction displays. The flight crew will have access to night-vision imaging. The helicopters will also be equipped with new survival, navigation, and communication equipment.

According to DAPA, a “kick-off meeting” for the programme was held on 9 September at the Korean Air Tech Center in Busan. Attended by representatives from the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) and Air Force (RoKAF) and the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTAQ), the meeting included discussions about the overall project plan as well as in-depth systems development and co-operation measures, the agency said on 10 September.

“Approximately 30 helicopters will be subject to the performance improvement, and they are scheduled to be deployed from 2029,” DAPA added.

The RoKA has 103 UH-60Ps in service, plus four specialist HH-60P Pave Hawks, which are modified UH-60Ps and used in the combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) role. The RoKAF operates 25 HH-60P Pave Hawks. According to DAPA, the upgrades will be applied to army UH-60Ps and air force HH-60 helicopters that are operated with RoK special forces.