Amphibious Operation Key 'Marinon'... Finalizing Operational Deployment

Introduction of over 30 Marine Corps vehicles... Operational deployment after 7 years of development

The operational deployment of the 'Marinon' amphibious assault helicopter, a core asset of the Marine Corps' landing operations, has been completed seven years after its initiation.

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on the 29th, the Marinon is a modified version of the domestically developed Korean utility helicopter 'Surion,' adapted for use by the Marine Corps. The system development was completed between 2013 and 2015, and operational deployment began in 2016.

The Marinon is specialized for easy operation at sea and on ships, featuring corrosion-resistant technologies such as flame retardant coatings on the airframe. It is also equipped with long-range radios for communication with ground or ship-based command centers and auxiliary fuel tanks to extend flight range. The Marinon performs various missions including three-dimensional amphibious operations transporting Marine personnel and equipment from landing ships, air assaults supporting ground operations, and rapid response to localized provocations in island regions. Although DAPA has not disclosed the exact number of units procured, it is known to be around 30.

A DAPA official stated, "The domestically developed amphibious assault helicopter not only meets the military's performance requirements but also offers the advantage of low operating and maintenance costs. We are developing derivative helicopters such as assault helicopters and plan to continuously enhance the performance of the amphibious assault helicopter in the future."

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