▲ Model of KAI's attack helicopter Marine On


Will the Marine Corps develop a landing attack helicopter in Korea or introduce it overseas? The Defense Agency for Technology and Quality concluded that it could be developed domestically through prior research. The aeronautical helicopter Marineon, which improved KAI's transport helicopter Surion, is equipped with an armament and can be transformed into a Marineon armed model.

If you think about fostering the defense industry, developing advanced defense technology, self-defense, and using domestic products, you can't do anything with Surion. However, the landing attack helicopter is not an item that says that the transport helicopter Surion has bulletproof armor and is armed. It is not a helicopter carrying troops and cargo from the rear, but a helicopter that will fight the enemy's ground and air firepower at the forefront of the amphibious operation.

Therefore, the ROC (Operation Requirement Capability) of the attack helicopter decided by the Marine Corps and raised by the Joint Chiefs of Staff is similar to the performance of the Viper (AH-1Z) of the United States Bell Helicopter, a global attack helicopter. It must be fast even with heavy air-to-ground and air-to-air armaments. It is impossible to say that Surion and Marine on are so-called 'plugs'. I wonder how the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality calculates how to match the ROC of the Marine Corps landing helicopter with Surion and Marineon.


● ROC of Marine Corps landing attack helicopter is 'Viper' class

Viper attack helicopters are operated by the US Marine Corps. It is tactical to operate an attack helicopter like the US Marine Corps for the Korean Marine Corps, which is always required to jointly train with the US Marine Corps and, in case of emergency, also conduct joint operations with the US Marine Corps.

That's why the Marine Corps ROC is a viper. The US Army's attack helicopter is Apache, and the South Korean Army is the same as choosing Apache as the attack helicopter.

The vertical rise speed of the viper is 14.2m / s. The cruising speed is 296 km / h and the top speed reaches 370 km / h. It has both air-to-ground and air-to-air armament. The ROC of the Marine Corps Landing Attack helicopter is similar.

On the other hand, Surion's vertical rise speed is 7.8m / s. It's half the level of the viper. Marineon, a modified Surion helicopter, is 300kg heavier than Surion. The vertical rise speed drops to 7.2m / s. The Marineon armed type, which is equipped with flame-proof, bullet-proof, air-to-air, and air-to-ground armament, is heavier than Marineon, and must be slowed down.

The cruising speed is 270 km / h for Surion and 264 km / h for Marine. Marineon is heavier than Surion, so its flight speed is slow. Naturally, the Marionon armament is heavier than the Surion and Marionon, so the flight speed is one step slower. Viper's 296km / h.

In other words, the Marionon armed is the least maneuverable among the Surion derivatives. In addition, the Marineon armament is expensive. The development cost is added, so there is no difference from the viper value. Both models are between 35 billion to 40 billion won per unit. Despite the sluggishness of the Marineon armed forces, the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality made the 'decision' of domestic development of attack helicopters.

● Stop Surion 'Eating Us'

I am curious to know what the Marine On Armed Forces received from all the items of the ROC attack helicopter during the previous research by the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality. Regardless of the evaluation criteria, the Marineon Armed Forces cannot meet the attack helicopter ROC. Wouldn't you know if you drastically lowered the ROC without joining the Marine Corps? .

Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, please reconsider the results of previous research. If you do not want to reconsider, if you are confident, or if there is no doubt, I suggest that you report the entire course of the prior study to the 21st National Assembly Defense Committee, which will be held in the April 15th general election.

KAI knows that Marion's armament will never hit a viper-class ROC. KAI knows better than anyone else that a Marineon armament cannot be an attack helicopter. However, if you are selected as a marine amphibious assault helicopter operator, you will develop a marine-on armed model without the words.

If it is to be developed domestically, KAI needs to develop a completely new attack helicopter even if it takes decades after Surion. The Surion variant is sufficient for firefighting, police, duty, and forest helicopters. Marineon, the 'mobile helicopter with low mobility,' was concerned about Surion. It is not a marine-on armed attack helicopter. It doesn't matter whether we are dependent on America or self-defense.