[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Special Operations Helicopter Battle: Boeing VS Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin CH-53K "16.3t Payload"
Boeing CH-47 Block II "Top Performance Upgrade"

Boeing and Lockheed Martin will compete over the special operations large mobility helicopter project.

On the 13th, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that at the 152nd Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee (hereafter DAPPC) meeting held on the 13th, four items including the basic strategy for the electronic warfare aircraft project were approved. The basic strategy for the special operations large mobility helicopter project was also approved.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 25th, at the Army Aviation Command in Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, a CH-47D Chinook helicopter is airlifting ammunition, fuel, and other supplies necessary for the forces participating in a large-scale airborne operation training exercise. Photo by Joint Press Corps

The special operations large mobility helicopter project aims to secure the Army special operations' airborne infiltration capability and reinforce the Air Force's search and rescue capability by acquiring special operations large mobility helicopters. From next year until 2031, 3.7 trillion KRW will be invested to procure dozens of special operations large mobility helicopters through foreign purchase to replace aging models.

3.7 Trillion KRW Invested by 2031 to Enhance Army Special Operations' Airborne Infiltration Capability and Air Force's Search and Rescue Capability

It is expected that the large mobility helicopters from foreign defense companies, Lockheed Martin's CH-53K King Stallion and Boeing's CH-47 Block II, will compete. Boeing and Lockheed Martin have already competed in the 'Large Mobility Helicopter-II Procurement Project.' The Korean military began introducing the CH-47D in 1987 and currently operates 24 units. However, after using the CH-47D for 50 years, the airframes have aged, making operation and maintenance increasingly difficult. At that time, Boeing's CH-47F and Lockheed Martin's CH-53K competed, but Lockheed Martin withdrew from the bidding. Accordingly, the DAPPC adjusted the procurement plan, which was previously pursued through a competitive bidding process, to a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) method.

In the special operations large mobility helicopter project, Boeing and Lockheed Martin are expected to compete with the same models.

Lockheed Martin's CH-53K is a model developed to replace the CH-53E Super Stallion operated by the U.S. military and is used by the U.S. Marine Corps. It can transport 16.3 tons of cargo. To handle the increased payload, it is equipped with three 7,500 horsepower T408-GE-400 turboshaft engines. However, it is expensive. Israel also signed a contract to acquire 18 CH-53Ks for 3.4 billion USD (approximately 4.04 trillion KRW).

Boeing's CH-47 Block II is a fully upgraded model of the CF-47F operated by the U.S. military. The U.S. military initially planned to upgrade the CH-47F but decided to introduce the upgraded CH-47 Block II model. Boeing announced in October 2021 that it signed a supply contract with the U.S. Army for the CH-47 Block II and began production.

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