Seahawk Deployed for First Mission to Counter North Korean Submarines

Deployment of New MH-60R "Seahawk" Maritime Operations Helicopter
Initiating Multidimensional Missions with Cheongsangeo Torpedo Integration

The new MH-60R Seahawk maritime operations helicopter is being deployed for the first time in operations. This, together with the P-8A Poseidon—considered the most advanced maritime patrol aircraft—enables multidimensional operations to counter North Korean submarines.

According to the Navy on April 1, the military decided in 2020 to introduce 12 Seahawks at a total project cost of 960 billion won. The helicopters have been delivered sequentially since 2024, and eight have now arrived in South Korea. Of these, the initial batch of two helicopters will be deployed to operations.

The Seahawk is 19.7 meters long, 5.1 meters high, and has a wingspan of 3.3 meters, with a maximum flight speed of 270 km/h. It is armed with torpedoes and anti-ship guided missiles, and equipped with dipping sonar and sonobuoys for detecting enemy submarines. The Seahawk’s greatest strengths are its long endurance and range. It can operate for about four hours on a single flight and has a range of 834 kilometers.

It outperforms the Wildcat and Lynx helicopters, of which the Navy currently operates about 30 units. Depending on its equipment, the Wildcat can remain airborne for 1 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours, with a range of about 518 kilometers. The Lynx is a smaller class than the Seahawk, and a replacement program for it has been underway since last year.

The Seahawk can conduct both anti-ship and anti-submarine operations simultaneously and boasts a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 10,000 kilograms. In contrast, the Wildcat can only perform one of these roles per sortie and has a takeoff weight of about 6,000 kilograms. The Seahawk can fly farther and longer than the Wildcat, carrying more personnel and equipment to conduct a greater variety of missions.

The Seahawk is equipped with the domestically produced Blue Shark torpedo. The United States has delayed supplying torpedoes to South Korea, citing the U.S. military’s Ammunition First Policy. The Blue Shark, developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), is a domestically produced lightweight torpedo used on surface ships of patrol vessel class and above, maritime operations helicopters, and maritime patrol aircraft for attacking submarines. Its strengths include excellent target detection and precise underwater guidance control. The use of a directional warhead further enhances its destructive power.

A military official said, “With the introduction of the new maritime operations helicopter in addition to the maritime patrol aircraft, our surveillance net against North Korea’s submarine capabilities becomes even tighter. Increased endurance will also allow for more effective operations.”

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