South Korea’s arms procurement agency has launched the system development phase of the UH/HH-60 helicopter performance improvement project.
More than 30 of South Korea’s 144 UH/HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters will reportedly be modernized under the 994.3-billion-won ($715-million) program aimed at adapting them to future battlefield conditions.
The project will be carried out by a Korean Air-led consortium that also includes LIG Nex1 and Collins Aerospace, with completion targeted for 2029.
Black Hawk Modernization
As part of the upgrades, the analog cockpit will be replaced with a digital version featuring a multi-function display and electronic map, alongside new survival and navigation/communication systems.
The addition of survival systems, including a radar warning receiver and integrated survival management computer, will bolster survivability in special operations and strengthen both the army’s airborne infiltration and the air force’s search-and-rescue missions.
In addition, the Sikorsky helicopter will be outfitted with automatic hovering and obstacle warning systems to significantly reduce pilot workload.
The program will transform the special operations aircraft into a multi-role platform, strengthening its role as a key military capability.
Domestic Capacity Building
Conducted through domestic research and development, the project is expected to develop more than 50 components, advance aviation technology, strengthen military support systems, and bolster the defense industry through cost savings and job creation.
“The UH/HH-60 performance improvement project will significantly enhance our military’s aerial infiltration and search and rescue capabilities, enabling us to proactively respond to changing battlefield situations,” Director of South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration Helicopter Division, Brigadier General Koh Hyung-seok, said.
“We will closely cooperate with relevant organizations to foster the defense industry, including increasing the rate of domestic production, and do our utmost to successfully manage the project.”
