South Korea receives final batch of AW159 anti-submarine helicopters

[Zarvan]

Image of the Republic of Korea Navy's AW159 helicopter, released in mid-2016 to commemorate the platform's first deliveries. Source: Republic of Korea Navy

South Korea has taken delivery of its final batch of four AW159 shipborne anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters from Leonardo's Helicopter Division, a company official confirmed with IHS Jane's on 22 December.

The aircraft were handed over in late November 2016 after completing its final acceptance tests, said the company, although an exact date of the delivery was not available.

The four airframes are part of an order to equip the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) with eight ASW helicopters under the country's Maritime Operational Helicopter programme, which has been initiated to bolster the country's submarine prosecution capabilities.

The AW159 platform features a maximum take-off weight of 6 tonnes, a maximum range of 265 n miles (490 km), and a maximum endurance of 2 hours and 40 minutes at 6,000 ft.

The helicopters can be armed with lightweight torpedoes, such as the K745 Cheong Sangeo (Blue Shark), and depth charges to prosecute underwater vessels.

Its suite of sensors include the Compact FLASH Sonics low-frequency, long-range dipping sonar system from Thales, and the Seaspray 7000E active electronically scanned array radar supplied by Selex.

The first batch of four aircraft was delivered in June 2016, and the helicopters are expected to be fully operational in mid-2017, according to information from local media reports.

Want to read more? For analysis on this article and access to all our insight content, please enquire about our subscription options ihs.com/contact




To read the full article, Client Login
(233 of 256 words)

http://www.janes.com/article/66491/...nal-batch-of-aw159-anti-submarine-helicopters