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🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

South Korea grounds 'Miron' attack helicopters over engine defects

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • South Korea's next-generation attack helicopter, the LAH 'Miron', has been grounded due to engine defects found in a significant number of units.
  • Of 57 engines assembled by Hanwha Aerospace, 47 showed corrosion and 38 had cracks, primarily in a component called the 'diffuser'.
  • The defects threaten the Army's pilot training and force deployment schedules, prompting an investigation into the assembly process.

South Korea's domestically developed LAH 'Miron' attack helicopter faces a critical setback as widespread engine defects have grounded the fleet. Investigations revealed corrosion in 47 out of 57 engines and cracks in 38, primarily affecting the 'diffuser' component responsible for stabilizing airflow. These engines are assembled by Hanwha Aerospace using French Safran technology.

The grounding impacts the Army's pilot training programs and the planned deployment of the helicopters, which are intended to replace aging 500MD reconnaissance and Cobra attack helicopters. The military plans to deploy over 160 Miron units by 2031.

Engine defects are a serious matter that directly threatens the lives of our pilots, potentially leading to engine failure in the worst-case scenario.

— Kang Sun-youngA member of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, highlighting the critical nature of the engine flaws.

Authorities confirmed the flight suspension in April after identifying the engine issues. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) is conducting a detailed analysis with relevant agencies and the manufacturer to pinpoint the exact cause. DAPA stated it would improve manufacturing processes and strengthen quality inspections based on the findings.

Rep. Kang Sun-young of the People Power Party emphasized the severity of the issue, stating that engine defects can lead to power loss or engine failure, directly endangering pilots' lives. She stressed that resolving these safety concerns and ensuring a reliable assembly process must be the top priority.

The complete resolution of defects that threaten pilot safety and the establishment of a reliable assembly process must take precedence over any other justification.

— Kang Sun-youngA member of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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