South Korea has successfully conducted the maiden flight of its indigenous mine countermeasures helicopter prototype in South Gyeongsang Province.
The flight marks a key milestone in a 347.7-billion-won ($256.6 million) initiative launched in 2022 to equip the Republic of Korea Armed Forces with a domestically developed helicopter to support naval minehunting operations.
The aircraft will now proceed through comprehensive testing to assess its flight performance, onboard systems, and safety features.
Korea Aerospace Industries, in collaboration with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), will continue the program’s development phase through 2026.
