Latest news with #KUH-1Surion
Iraqi News
25-04-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
South Korea seeks growing arms deals with Iraq
Baghdad ( – With negotiations to provide more military equipment, such as fighter jets, helicopters, and air defense systems, South Korea is stepping up its attempts to increase its military sales to Iraq. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a central administrative agency of the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement on Wednesday that the discussions took place on the sidelines of the he 13th Security, Defense, Military Industries, and Cybersecurity Exhibition, which was held in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, from April 19 to 22, Defence Blog News reported. The chief of the helicopter program division, Ko Hyung-seok, reportedly met with senior Iraqi officials to discuss further military collaboration, according to DAPA. The discussions included potential sales of locally manufactured fighter jets, mobile air defense units, and South Korea's KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), a South Korean aerospace and defense manufacturer, said in December that it had signed a 136 billion won ($93.7 million) deal to provide Iraq with KUH helicopters. Under the deal, the new helicopters will be delivered to the Iraqi government by March 2029, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency. The KUH-1 Surion, a medium transport helicopter, was developed by KAI in 2012 to replace the army's aging fleet of UH-1H and 500MD helicopters. KAI has developed various aerospace products, including training aircraft, fighter jets, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, satellites, and training systems. Earlier in December, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, received representatives of KAI in Baghdad, where they discussed strategies to enhance Iraq's air defense systems. Al-Sudani reaffirmed the government's commitment to working with KAI and utilizing its knowledge and expertise, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The endeavor is in line with the government's goals of reforming Iraq's security sector and strengthening security forces' capabilities.
Korea Herald
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Ruling party urges military appointments amid leadership void
The ruling People Power Party on Wednesday called for immediate appointments to fill vacant military leadership posts, attributing recent accidents and a breakdown in discipline to the current leadership vacuum. Several high-ranking officers were suspended for their alleged involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law declaration on Dec. 3 last year. 'The absence of military leadership has led to ongoing gaps in national security and a breakdown in military discipline, which we cannot ignore as causes of repeated accidents,' said People Power Party spokesperson Ham In-kyung in a statement. 'We can no longer leave these key posts unfilled while the military is responsible for national security,' Ham added. Her remarks came after the South Korean military suffered from two notable incidents in recent weeks. On Monday, a South Korean military drone collided with a stationary helicopter while landing at an Army aviation unit in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, following a reconnaissance mission. No casualties were reported, but both the Heron drone and the KUH-1 Surion helicopter were destroyed in the resulting fire. The Army said an investigation is ongoing and dismissed the possibility of North Korean involvement, such as electronic jamming. Earlier, on March 6, two KF-16 fighter jets from the South Korean Air Force mistakenly dropped bombs on a civilian area during live-fire drills, leaving 29 people injured. The drills were held ahead of Freedom Shield, an annual joint military exercise with the United States. Investigations revealed that the pilots had entered incorrect coordinates and failed to follow standard in-flight verification procedures. The top military posts that have remained unfilled since last year include those of nine suspended generals, including Park An-su, former Army Chief of Staff; Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung, former commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command; Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-geun, former commander of the Special Warfare Command; Lee Jin-woo, former commander of the Capital Defense Command; and Maj. Gen. Moon Sang-ho, former head of the Defense Intelligence Command. The post of Defense Minister is also vacant, as former Minister Kim Yong-hyun was detained over charges related to his involvement in the martial law controversy. Vice Minister Kim Seon-ho is currently serving as acting minister. South Korea's military typically makes personnel changes among generals in early April, with preparations beginning in March. However, such preparations appear unlikely amid political uncertainty and the absence of leadership at the ministry, military sources say. 'If personnel appointments are delayed, fatigue among commanding officers at corps and division levels increases, raising the likelihood of further accidents,' a retired Army general, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Korea Herald. 'There are also concerns that any appointments made now could be overturned if there is a sudden change in administration. A bipartisan agreement on this matter is urgently needed,' the general added.
Korea Herald
17-03-2025
- Korea Herald
Military drone crash destroys $14m helicopter
A South Korean Army helicopter was destroyed by fire after it was struck by a drone, the Army reported Monday. According to the Army Ground Operations Command, around 1 p.m. Monday at a military airfield in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, a military drone collided with a parked helicopter during landing, sparking a fire. 'There were no casualties from the fire,' the command said, adding that the cause of the incident and the full extent of the damage are under investigation. The fire was extinguished in about 20 minutes. The Army dismissed the possibility of North Korean involvement in the incident, such as electronic jamming. The helicopter was identified as a KUH-1 Surion, valued at 18.5 billion won ($14 million), while the drone was identified as a Heron, an Israeli-made reconnaissance uncrewed aerial vehicle, according to military sources. The helicopter was fully fueled at the time, and both aircraft were completely destroyed in the blaze. The Heron, which measures 8.5 meters in length and 16.6 meters in wingspan, is a medium-altitude UAV capable of monitoring ground targets from an altitude of 10 kilometers. The South Korean military adopted the drone in 2013 at a cost of 3 billion won ($2 million) per unit. The unit believed to be involved — based on the location of the incident — is the 209th Aviation Battalion under the 11th Aviation Group of the 1st Corps, which was established in 2018. The 11th Aviation Group initially operated KUH-1 helicopters but has since expanded its operations to include UAVs. The Heron was involved in similar incidents while attempting to land in 2018 and 2024, with the military at the time also denying any external interference. However, given these past incidents, it remains unclear whether the Army conducted sufficient safety checks before deploying the drone. The Army has yet to disclose who was operating the drone at the time of the crash. Currently, officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted personnel are all authorized to operate uncrewed aerial vehicles. The incident came just 11 days after two South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly dropped bombs on a civilian area during the Freedom Shield exercise, an annual joint military drill with the United States, leaving 29 people injured. The pilots responsible for the bombing had entered incorrect coordinates and failed to follow in-flight verification procedures. Both pilots have been charged by military prosecutors with professional negligence resulting in injury.
