South Korea boosts readiness of Surion-based amphibious helicopters

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on January 22 that the Republic of Korea Marine Corps’ amphibious maneuver helicopters have maintained readiness levels above target requirements, following a review of operational performance and logistics support conducted in Daejeon.

The meeting, held at DAPA headquarters, brought together representatives from the Marine Corps, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and Hanwha Aerospace to assess the performance of the amphibious maneuver helicopter fleet and discuss measures to sustain high availability throughout 2026. The review focused on performance-based logistics support, known as PBL, under which contractors are compensated based on achieved equipment readiness and other measurable outcomes.

According to DAPA, the helicopter fleet achieved an operational availability rate of 90 percent over the past year, exceeding the official target of 82 percent set for the program. Officials said the result confirms the effectiveness of the current maintenance structure and coordination between the military, government, and industry partners.

As noted by DAPA, the discussions also covered annual maintenance planning and steps to maintain or further improve availability levels, ensuring that Marine aviation units remain prepared for operational deployment without interruption. The agency said the helicopters’ readiness directly supports the Marine Corps’ ability to conduct amphibious landings, air assault missions, and rapid response operations on islands and in coastal areas.

The amphibious maneuver helicopter is a modified version of the Surion (KUH-1) Korean Utility Helicopter, redesigned to meet the specific operational needs of the Marine Corps. The platform was fully inducted into service between 2018 and 2023 and is now considered a core aviation asset for South Korea’s amphibious forces. It provides lift for troops and equipment during landing operations and supports rapid maneuver in scenarios involving localized provocations or coastal contingencies.

DAPA said the helicopter program has also become a foundation for further development, with work underway on a derivative amphibious attack helicopter variant that will integrate updated avionics and weapon systems. The agency confirmed that the maneuver helicopter remains the baseline platform for these follow-on efforts, linking current readiness performance to future force development plans.

According to a statement from DAPA’s Director General for Force Support Programs, Park Jeong-eun, the sustained readiness level reflects close cooperation between the military, government, and industry. “The achievement of readiness levels above target was made possible by close civil-military-industry coordination,” Park said. “DAPA will continue to strengthen field-centered program management so the armed forces can maintain the highest level of combat readiness.”

KAI and Hanwha Aerospace, the two main contractors supporting the helicopter fleet, are responsible for maintenance, logistics, and technical support under the PBL framework. DAPA said the arrangement allows faster response to maintenance demands and improves predictability for operational units, while also reducing long-term sustainment risk.