South Korea's Marine Attack Helicopter conducts live-fire tests

A KAI Marine Attack Helicopter launches rockets during a live-fire test in 2025. (DAPA)

South Korea's new Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH) successfully completed three live-fire tests designed to assess its combat capabilities, the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has said.

Developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the MAH is an armed version of the MUH-1 Marineon helicopter. According to DAPA, the MAH is designed to “provide cover for Republic of Korea Marine Corps (RoKMC)-operated MUH-1 helicopters during amphibious attacks on hostile territory”.

In what was the first in a series of weapons trials, the three live-fire tests were conducted in the first half of 2025, and in diurnal and nocturnal conditions, using “machine guns and rockets”, DAPA said in a statement on 14 July. The tests “are a key step in validating the helicopter's day and night combat capability, and confirm the practical combat capability required to conduct amphibious operations”, DAPA added.

“The success of the day and night live-fire test demonstrates the core performance of the MUH for practical deployment,” Brigadier General Koh Heung-seok, head of DAPA's Helicopter Division, said.

Janes previously reported that in addition to a three-barrel 20 mm electric cannon in the nose, the MAHs will be equipped with Hanwha Techwin ‘Cheon-geom' anti-tank missiles, MBDA Mistral air-to-air missiles (AAMs), 2.75 inch unguided rockets, and Target Acquisition and Designation Sights (TADSs).

DAPA will prepare the MAH for follow-up testing, including air-to-ground and AAM firing tests, “to complete the development of the helicopter on schedule”, Brig Gen Koh said.