The Navy's Core Force to Prevent North Korean Naval Mines

Indiscriminate Attack Power of Underwater Weapon Mines
Sink Warships Worth Hundreds of Millions of Dollars at a Cost $1,500 Cheaper

[Monthly Aviation Editor-in-Chief Kim Jae-han] Mines are representative underwater weapons alongside torpedoes. Unlike torpedoes that selectively attack targets, mines are indiscriminate underwater weapons that do not distinguish their targets. This is precisely why mines are often called "stealthy and brutal destroyers." What if such brutal destroyers were laid in our seas? Of course, this should never happen, but rather than hoping it won't, it is wiser to prepare effective countermeasures.

The sinking of the Cheonan ship clearly demonstrated the threat of underwater weapons. Although the investigation revealed that the cause was a North Korean torpedo attack, mines?often called sea mines?were once suspected as the cause. This is because mines pose indiscriminate threats to warships and civilian vessels alike, using cunning locations and methods underwater and on the sea surface. For this reason, many experts regard mines as the ultimate asymmetric weapon.

▲Cost-effective mines, North Korea also possesses many= Mines are known as underwater weapons with excellent cost-effectiveness. In other words, they are weapons that can achieve great effects with relatively low cost. If mines are properly installed in suitable locations, they can sink expensive warships worth hundreds of millions of dollars at a low cost of about $1,500. In fact, after World War II, the United States lost 15 warships to mines. This remains true in modern times. In 1990, the USS Tripoli, a U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship with a displacement close to 20,000 tons, suffered significant damage from a mine in the Gulf. In 1991, the USS Princeton, an advanced Aegis cruiser at the time, was also unable to avoid indiscriminate mine attacks.

Because mines deliver powerful effects at low cost, many countries possess them. It is estimated that about 50 countries currently have mines. There are more than 300 types of mines, and the total quantity is estimated to be around 250,000. Among these, North Korea and China, which claims to be North Korea's ally, are known to possess a huge number of mines.

In particular, North Korea is analyzed to place great importance on stealthy and destructive mine warfare tactics to counter the technologically advanced naval forces of South Korea and the United States. One such tactic is laying mines in South Korea's major naval bases using submarines. This tactic aims to tightly block or stealthily attack the core warships of the naval forces right off our shores. Naturally, this is a realistic threat that the Republic of Korea Navy must address immediately.

▲Increasingly intelligent mines, insufficient with mine countermeasure vessels= The threat of mines is higher in South Korea than anywhere else on Earth. This is because South Korea faces the aggressive North Korea, which attacks warships with torpedoes even during peacetime. Naturally, effective countermeasures are urgently needed. The navy has secured mine countermeasure (MCM) capabilities since the 1960s. The representative asset is the mine countermeasure vessel (MCMV), a ship designed to detect and remove mines. Initially, the navy operated vessels acquired from the United States, but since the mid-1980s, domestically developed mine hunting and sweeping vessels such as the Ganggyeong-class mine hunting ship (MHC) and Yangyang-class mine sweeping ship (MSH) have been in service. Continuous investment in mine countermeasure equipment has significantly enhanced mine warfare capabilities compared to the past.

However, there are many criticisms that these vessels cannot keep pace with increasingly intelligent mines and the rapidly changing battlefield environment. Today’s mines include simple magnetic influence mines that detect metallic magnetic fields, acoustic influence mines that detect sounds such as ship propellers, and pressure influence mines that sense pressure changes caused by ship movement. In addition to these traditional types, more intelligent composite influence mines combining these sensors are also in use. Many experts agree that current mine countermeasure vessels are insufficient to handle the variety and sophistication of modern mines.

Mine countermeasure helicopters capable of detecting and removing mines are effective assets
The navy has decided to introduce mine countermeasure helicopters, aiming to select a model by 2022
Models under consideration include MH-60S, AW101, and a helicopter based on the domestically developed Surion

▲Mine countermeasure helicopters: not a choice but a necessity= So, what is the countermeasure against these stealthy and indiscriminate mines? Most military experts unhesitatingly point to AMCM (Airborne Mine Counter-Measures), that is, mine countermeasure helicopters that detect and remove mines from the air.

One reason for choosing mine countermeasure helicopters is safety. Since they operate from the air, they are safer than mine countermeasure vessels that must tow mine countermeasure equipment directly in mine-laying waters. Mine countermeasure operations conducted by ships always carry risks, especially when the types of mines laid are unknown. There are many concerns about this within the navy. A navy official said, "No matter how capable a mine countermeasure vessel is, there is always risk when operating in mine-laying waters," adding, "Today, the variety of mines has increased, making these risks even greater."

From an operational perspective, mine countermeasure helicopters are also evaluated as effective assets. For example, the difference in personnel involved in mine warfare between helicopters and vessels is significant. The mine countermeasure vessels currently operated by the navy have crews of about 50, which is not a small number. This means that about 50 personnel are exposed to dangerous mine-laying waters for mine removal. In contrast, mine countermeasure helicopters require only a pilot and a mine countermeasure equipment operator?roughly one-tenth the personnel of a vessel. This greatly reduces the burden on military leadership, which must maximize troop maintenance during peacetime.

Mobility is another strength of mine countermeasure helicopters. If a mine-laying area is suspected, helicopters can be deployed immediately. Naturally, this mobility translates into rapid response. In contrast, mine countermeasure vessels cannot achieve high speeds due to their ship characteristics. For example, the maximum speed of South Korean navy mine countermeasure vessels is about 15 knots, approximately 28 km/h. If the mission area is far, rapid response is practically impossible.

Helicopter versatility is also worth considering. Mine countermeasure vessels are expensive single-purpose assets dedicated solely to mine countermeasures, whereas mine countermeasure helicopters can remove mine countermeasure equipment as needed and perform various missions such as troop transport and logistics support. For example, the U.S. Navy’s MH-60S mine countermeasure helicopter can detach mine countermeasure equipment to perform other missions as necessary. This high versatility also relates directly to cost-effectiveness. Considering safety, operability, speed, and versatility, mine countermeasure helicopters are indispensable assets rather than optional ones.

Today’s mine countermeasure helicopters can detect and destroy mines using onboard equipment. Various systems are installed for this purpose. One representative mine countermeasure helicopter is the U.S. Navy’s MH-60S, which is equipped with the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) capable of detecting mines in shallow waters and at specific depths, and the Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS), an unmanned mine disposal system that identifies and neutralizes mines. Additionally, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) that autonomously search for mines underwater are also utilized.

▲Navy pushing for mine countermeasure helicopter acquisition= Meanwhile, given the persistent threat of North Korean mine-laying, the Republic of Korea Navy is currently pursuing the acquisition of mine countermeasure helicopters. Although this was already included in the "2009-2013 Defense Mid-term Plan," delays in developing mine countermeasure equipment have hindered smooth progress.

Recently, the mine countermeasure helicopter acquisition project has regained momentum, with plans to select a model by 2022. However, the development of domestically produced autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles (AUVs), which were to be installed on the helicopters, has been delayed, so the project is expected to proceed in coordination with the development schedule.

The most closely watched candidates for the mine countermeasure helicopter include foreign models such as the U.S. Lockheed Martin MH-60S and Italy’s Leonardo AW101, as well as a helicopter based on Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)’s domestically developed Surion.

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