*Source: DTN News / Defense News
(NSI News Source Info) SEOUL, South Korea - July 31, 2009: South Korea's hopes of buying refurbished U.S. Apache attack helicopters may be fading - and being replaced with visions of a locally developed aircraft, sources from the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) say. 
The Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration of South Korea is reconsidering buying Block 1 Apaches and upgrading them to Block II. (U.S. Army)
One of the options considered was buying Block 1 Apaches and upgrading them to Block II. The sources said DAPA officials asked the U.S. Army about the cost, upgrade possibilities and spare parts supply.
The U.S. officials responded that South Korea should make a bulk purchase of enough spare parts to last 30 years, one source said.
The DAPA officials were not pleased.
Another turnoff: "We asked the U.S. Army team if South Korean tactical data link systems can be integrated into refurbished Apache helicopters, but they said it's difficult," the source said. "That's another key factor that made us reconsider a buy of older Apaches."
Apache maker Boeing declined to comment.
The Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group-Korea (JUSMAG-K) in Seoul, which coordinates Korean purchases of U.S. arms, downplayed the reports of discord.
"At this point, the U.S. and ROK governments are simply sharing information and no negotiations have taken place," a group official said July 10. "Neither the U.S. and ROK governments have ventured beyond this information-sharing phase, and no requests have been made."
In May, Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee halted a feasibility study on the AH-X effort to buy 36 foreign helos to replace the Army's 500MD TOWs and AH-1Ss by 2011, and ordered a fresh study to be completed by year's end.
He also asked the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Army to adjust the Korea Attack Helicopter (KAH)'s operational requirements, which had originally called for a medium or light attack helicopter, by September.
Build Our Own
A senior DAPA official hinted to journalists in early July that the consensus view is now that developing an indigenous attack helicopter would reduce parts problems and create more South Korean jobs.
"We can't operate foreign weapons systems forever," the official said. "I believe we've secured a good technology base to build our own attack helicopter following the successful utility helicopter development program."
The official apparently referred to the Korea Utility Helicopter, Surion, rolled out July 31 after three years of development by Korea Aerospace Industries, with technical assistance from Eurocopter.
A U.S. industry source disagreed.
"Still, the money for a KAH program must come from somewhere and the Korean government money is tight," he said. "Where will the money come from? Also, it will take many years to develop a new attack helicopter, probably more than the eight years that they project, even with the expertise of a Boeing or Eurocopter supporting the project ... and lots of money over many years from the Korean government and taxpayers."
The KAH program calls for building about 270 attack helicopters in partnership with foreign manufacturers. But many defense experts have advised purchasing aircraft from foreign firms would be more economically sound than developing an indigenous model, which is expected to cost up to 10 trillion won ($8 billion) or more.
An interim report of the early study said, "There is no country, even if it has an outstanding helicopter building infrastructure, technology and experience as well as related experts, that has succeeded in developing an attack helicopter within 10 years."
It took more than nine years in general to see the first flight after development and an average of 21 years to have them enter service initially, the report said.
The report said the South Korean Army's current attack helicopters lack strategic deterrence and rapid-response capabilities. Moreover, about half of the Army's 500MD TOW helicopters will reach their life span of 30 years by 2013, and AH-1S helicopters have also been operated for more than 16 years, it said.
The Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration of South Korea is reconsidering buying Block 1 Apaches and upgrading them to Block II. (U.S. Army)
One of the options considered was buying Block 1 Apaches and upgrading them to Block II. The sources said DAPA officials asked the U.S. Army about the cost, upgrade possibilities and spare parts supply.
The U.S. officials responded that South Korea should make a bulk purchase of enough spare parts to last 30 years, one source said.
The DAPA officials were not pleased.
Another turnoff: "We asked the U.S. Army team if South Korean tactical data link systems can be integrated into refurbished Apache helicopters, but they said it's difficult," the source said. "That's another key factor that made us reconsider a buy of older Apaches."
Apache maker Boeing declined to comment.
The Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group-Korea (JUSMAG-K) in Seoul, which coordinates Korean purchases of U.S. arms, downplayed the reports of discord.
"At this point, the U.S. and ROK governments are simply sharing information and no negotiations have taken place," a group official said July 10. "Neither the U.S. and ROK governments have ventured beyond this information-sharing phase, and no requests have been made."
In May, Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee halted a feasibility study on the AH-X effort to buy 36 foreign helos to replace the Army's 500MD TOWs and AH-1Ss by 2011, and ordered a fresh study to be completed by year's end.
He also asked the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Army to adjust the Korea Attack Helicopter (KAH)'s operational requirements, which had originally called for a medium or light attack helicopter, by September.
Build Our Own
A senior DAPA official hinted to journalists in early July that the consensus view is now that developing an indigenous attack helicopter would reduce parts problems and create more South Korean jobs.
"We can't operate foreign weapons systems forever," the official said. "I believe we've secured a good technology base to build our own attack helicopter following the successful utility helicopter development program."
The official apparently referred to the Korea Utility Helicopter, Surion, rolled out July 31 after three years of development by Korea Aerospace Industries, with technical assistance from Eurocopter.
A U.S. industry source disagreed.
"Still, the money for a KAH program must come from somewhere and the Korean government money is tight," he said. "Where will the money come from? Also, it will take many years to develop a new attack helicopter, probably more than the eight years that they project, even with the expertise of a Boeing or Eurocopter supporting the project ... and lots of money over many years from the Korean government and taxpayers."
The KAH program calls for building about 270 attack helicopters in partnership with foreign manufacturers. But many defense experts have advised purchasing aircraft from foreign firms would be more economically sound than developing an indigenous model, which is expected to cost up to 10 trillion won ($8 billion) or more.
An interim report of the early study said, "There is no country, even if it has an outstanding helicopter building infrastructure, technology and experience as well as related experts, that has succeeded in developing an attack helicopter within 10 years."
It took more than nine years in general to see the first flight after development and an average of 21 years to have them enter service initially, the report said.
The report said the South Korean Army's current attack helicopters lack strategic deterrence and rapid-response capabilities. Moreover, about half of the Army's 500MD TOW helicopters will reach their life span of 30 years by 2013, and AH-1S helicopters have also been operated for more than 16 years, it said.
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