[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] The Current Unmanned Helicopter Development Battle Among Korea, China, and Japan

The AV500W, being developed by China, is a lightweight vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) designed for military purposes.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] South Korea, China, and Japan are accelerating their development of unmanned helicopters. The reason for speeding up unmanned helicopter development is to leverage the advantage that, in wartime situations, they are not affected by terrain and do not require separate takeoff and landing sites.

China already possesses the capability to develop unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types, including high-altitude, medium-altitude, low-altitude, and small-sized drones similar to those of the United States and Israel. Its unmanned helicopter development capabilities are also outstanding.

In 2018, China succeeded in a test where an unmanned reconnaissance attack helicopter fired an air-to-ground missile and hit the target. The unmanned helicopter showcased by the Chinese state-owned enterprise Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) was the 'AV500W.' The AV500W accurately hit a target at a distance of 4.5 km during the missile test firing.

The AV500W is a lightweight vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) developed for military purposes. Its maximum takeoff weight is 500 kg, with a maximum flight altitude of 5,000 meters. It has a payload capacity of 175 kg, a maximum flight speed of 170 km/h, and a flight duration of 5 hours. It can be equipped with small laser-guided missiles or machine guns. It can strike moving targets and be used for various purposes such as attacking terrorist or drug organizations.

There is also the unmanned helicopter 'V-750,' capable of firing anti-tank missiles. The V-750 drone, jointly developed by Weifang Tianxiang Aerospace Industry and Qingdao Haili Helicopters Manufacturing and certified by the Chinese Aviation Administration in 2014, weighs 750 kg and is suitable for both civilian and military use.

The V-750 unmanned helicopter can carry at least two or more 50 kg anti-tank missiles such as the HJ-9, HJ-10, or rocket pods (launch tubes for multiple rocket launcher systems). Its firing range is about 500 km. Being a medium-sized unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAT), it can be operated at the battalion level rather than the corps or division level, providing operational flexibility. Additionally, the B-series unmanned helicopters such as the Z-10, Z-19, and Z-8B are also quite sophisticated.

The unmanned helicopter to be introduced by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is likely to be the MQ-8C model used by the U.S. Navy.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force plans to directly import 20 large unmanned helicopters to be mounted on escort ships. From 2023, the unmanned helicopters to be deployed are being considered for installation on the Izumo-class ships, Hyuga-class destroyers, and new destroyers equipped with mine countermeasure capabilities. Japan's decision to equip escort ships with unmanned helicopters is due to the constant navigation of Chinese Coast Guard vessels around the Senkaku Islands and the active operations of the Chinese military in the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

The unmanned helicopter that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is set to introduce is likely the MQ-8C model used by the U.S. Navy. While the detection range of the existing electro-optical and infrared cameras mounted on the MQ-8C is only 6 to 10 miles (9.6 to 16 km), experts explain that the new model can detect up to 80 nautical miles (148 km). In this regard, the U.S. Navy recently commissioned Northrop Grumman for upgrades and technical inspections of the new radar system.

The MQ-8C is 9.1 meters long, has a top speed of 203 km/h, a maximum altitude of 6,096 meters, and a maximum takeoff weight of 1.42 tons. It can operate in the air for up to 5 hours per sortie and supports enemy ship detection and identification through the adoption of Automatic Identification System (AIS) technology. It can also be equipped with 2.75-inch rockets guided by lasers called 'APKWS.'

South Korea is also developing the 500MD unmanned helicopter (KUS-VH) at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The first flight was completed in August last year. The initial flight took place at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute's Aviation Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, fully unmanned for about 30 minutes. The 500MD unmanned helicopter successfully performed hovering after taking off 10 meters from the ground, demonstrating the performance and safety of the unmanned flight control system.

KAI plans to gradually expand the flight envelope and operational altitude of the 500MD unmanned helicopter through additional development reflecting customer requirements over about two and a half years until the end of 2021, aiming to verify flight performance and mission equipment operation capabilities. The 500MD unmanned helicopter, which succeeded in its initial flight, is equipped with advanced flight control systems such as a flight control computer, tactical-grade integrated navigation system, propulsion controller, and electro-mechanical rotor actuators. Subsequent development will enable reconnaissance and surveillance during both day and night by mounting mission equipment, making it applicable in various fields.

The 500MD unmanned helicopter, capable of 6 hours of endurance and a payload of 440 kg, allows for economical development and early deployment through the unmanned conversion of existing helicopters. It enables domestic procurement of unmanned helicopters for both civilian and military use and rapid entry into the expanding overseas market. Notably, it offers advantages such as reducing defense costs by minimally arming retired helicopters and preventing losses of manned helicopters and pilots in high-risk areas.

KAI integrated unmanned aerial vehicle base technology and helicopter unmanned technology into the 500MD helicopters retired after long-term use by the Army. Unlike many manned helicopters such as Boeing's Little Bird or Sikorsky's UH-60, which are developed as optionally manned for ease of development, KAI developed the 500MD as a fully unmanned model from the start to minimize mass production costs.

Meanwhile, KAI opened the era of complete aircraft production in Korea by starting mass production of the 500MD military helicopter, the first in Korea, in 1976. From 1976 to 1988, KAI produced 500MD military helicopters and supplied them to the Army, exporting over 250 500MD fuselages overseas.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.