South Korea Conducts First Flight of Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Prototype

South Korea’s state arms procurement agency has announced the first flight of its new mine countermeasures helicopter, developed to strengthen naval operations by neutralizing underwater mine threats in key maritime zones.

The event was held at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) headquarters in Sacheon and organized by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

The prototype helicopter, which completed its first flight on June 16, is designed to detect and clear sea mines using three mine warfare systems: an Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS), a mine-neutralizing underwater autonomous vehicle, and an unmanned minesweeping system. These tools are mounted on the Marineon platform, a naval variant of the domestically developed Surion utility helicopter.

Development began in 2022, with ground testing completed in March 2025. According to DAPA, full development will be finalized by late 2026 following flight-based technology validation and safety evaluations.

The helicopter is expected to operate in areas where traditional minehunting ships face limitations, especially shallow coastal zones and major harbors. Once operational, it will support Navy missions such as securing transport corridors and amphibious landing routes.

In parallel, DAPA also confirmed the delivery of 40 Bell 505 helicopters to replace aging Army and Navy training helicopters. These are intended to modernize and improve pilot training safety and efficiency.