South Korea introduces new amphibious assault helicopter

South Korea’s newly developed Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH) has made its maiden flight on January 15, showcasing significant modifications and extensive armament tailored for amphibious assault, close air support, and coastal defense missions. The MAH is part of South Korea's broader effort to strengthen its amphibious and naval warfare capabilities, reflecting a more assertive stance toward North Korea.

The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) MAH completed its first flight on December 17, 2024, lasting approximately 20 minutes. According to a review written by The War Zone on the latest addition to the Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC), the flight tested basic flight control performance and stability, including hovering, circling, and forward and backward movements at a height of 30 meters.

"MAH" takes off for the first time.
MAH is a new, dedicated attack helicopter designed for the South Korean Marine Corp.
20mm triple barreled chain gun, Taipers missiles, France Mistral, proven platform, latest avionics..that sounds promising.
I should call this Korean Hind.
It… pic.twitter.com/JPCxDPjJqp

— ハク Mason (@mason_8718) January 22, 2025

The MAH is distinguished by its heavy armament and design, bearing a striking resemblance to the modified Aérospatiale Puma helicopters featured as Soviet Mi-24 Hinds in 1980s Rambo movies. This similarity is partly due to shared design influences in the early stages of the MAH’s development.

Designed for maritime operations, the MAH features extensive protection against seawater corrosion, is equipped with flotation devices for emergency water landings, and has folding main rotor blades to minimize its deck footprint.

The helicopter is armed with a 20mm three-barrel nose turret gun and stub wings fitted with multiple weapon systems. These include anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), unguided rocket pods, and containerized air-to-air missiles (AAMs). Previous reports suggest that the MAH is equipped with Cheongeom ATGMs and MBDA Mistral AAMs. The Cheongeom ATGMs, produced by Hanwha Aerospace, can be carried in clusters of four, while the Mistral AAMs provide air-to-air combat capability. Additionally, the MAH features an electro-optical/infrared turret mounted at the front of the nose, enhancing its targeting and surveillance capabilities.

Other notable features include missile and laser warning sensors for self-protection, along with measures to counter seawater corrosion, flotation devices for emergency water landings, and folding main rotor blades to minimize the helicopter’s footprint on naval ships. Powering the MAH are two General Electric/Hanwha Aerospace T700-701K turboshaft engines, each providing 1,855 shaft horsepower, and controlled by a full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) system to optimize performance.

The MAH is the latest iteration of the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH) program, initiated in 2006 as a collaboration between KAI, Eurocopter (now Airbus), DAPA, and the Korean Aerospace Research Institute. Three MAH prototypes were completed by the end of 2024, with ground testing beginning in October of the same year. Full-scale testing and evaluation are scheduled for 2025, with development expected to conclude in the second half of 2026.

Once operational, the MAH will enhance the ROKMC with robust firepower and escort capabilities, particularly for the Marineon helicopters used in amphibious assaults. Despite its heavy armament, the MAH retains its troop-carrying capability, similar to the Mi-24 Hind, ensuring versatility. The Marineon can transport up to 11 troops, and while internal space in the MAH version may be reduced, it remains a multifunctional platform.

South Korea’s focus on amphibious warfare aligns with its broader naval expansion, which includes advanced submarines and heavily armed surface combatants. The Dokdo-class assault ships are central to this strategy and will serve as ideal hosts for the MAH helicopters. In addition to its attack role, the MAH may support other missions, including troop transport and mine countermeasures, the latter being a crucial need due to North Korea’s extensive mine warfare capabilities. A mine countermeasures version of the Marineon is already in development, with completion expected by 2026.

The MAH represents a significant leap forward in South Korea’s defense capabilities, particularly in naval and amphibious operations. Its development underscores the nation’s commitment to bolstering security and deterring regional threats.

By Nazrin Sadigova