South Korea to Develop Indigenous Missile for AH-1 & MD 500 Helicopters to Replace TOW ATGM

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World Aviation Defense & Security News - South Korea
 
 
 
South Korea to Develop Indigenous Missile for AH-1 & MD 500 Helicopters to Replace TOW ATGM
 
South Korea's arms procurement agency said Tuesday, June 2nd, it has decided to develop an anti-tank guided missile for light and combat helicopters using its own technology. Currently, South Korea has about 60 AH-1S Cobra acquired in the 90s and ordered 36 AH-64E Apache to be delivered between 2016 and 2018. In the 80s, South Korea also received 50 Hughe 500MD Defender armed with TOW missiles.
     
South Korea to Develop Indigenous Guided Missile for AH-1 Helicopters to Replace TOW ATGM South Korea AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter with TOW Launchers
     
The decision calls for developing indigenous air-to-ground missiles for the helicopters to replace the current anti-tank missiles of TOW (the Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided Missile System), according to the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

"The project is to be completed in 2022 for mass production and deployment the following year," DAPA spokesman Kim Si-cheol said in a briefing, adding that the development will be led by the Agency for Defense Development.

The project has been approved by the defense project committee meeting presided over by Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo.

"The new missiles are expected to boost our military's ability to detect targets, which will lead to strengthened precision-strike capabilities against tanks," he said.
     
South Korea to Develop Indigenous Guided Missile for AH-1 Helicopters to Replace TOW ATGM South Korea MD500 Light Helicopter with TOW Launchers