South Korea Upgrades Army UH-60 Helicopters With New Internal Water Tanks

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) today announced it has completed upgrades to the Army’s UH-60 helicopters, replacing their external Bambi Bucket firefighting system with a high-capacity internal water tank.

The change is aimed at improving firefighting capabilities and operational safety during aerial disaster response missions.

The UH-60 helicopters previously relied on a 1,600-liter Bambi Bucket, which was suspended outside the aircraft. While globally used due to its ease of use and quick refilling, the external system posed safety risks. The exposed nozzle under the fuselage increased the chances of hitting terrain during low-altitude maneuvers and complicated take-offs after water collection.

To address these challenges, DAPA replaced the external system with an internally mounted 3,218-liter water tank. This upgrade not only doubles the water-carrying capacity but also reduces the risk of collisions during flight. The new tank system includes an electronically controlled release mechanism to improve the accuracy of water drops over fire zones.

The modification also enhances winter operations. In cases where rivers and reservoirs are frozen, water can now be pumped into the internal tanks using ground-based fire hoses, allowing helicopters to continue operations without needing to scoop water mid-flight.