New LAH‑1 Miron helicopters boost South Korea's military might
The KAI Corporation has begun deliveries of the multirole combat helicopter LAH-1 Miron, intended for the South Korean army. Developed by Korean industry, these helicopters, also known as light attack helicopters, are designed to complement the fleet of South Korean AH-64E Guardians.
Seoul has ordered about 40 units of the new helicopters. The LAH-1 Miron, with a target fleet size estimated at around 100 units, is set to replace the decommissioned Bell AH-1S Cobras and MD500 Defenders in the armed forces by 2031.
The new helicopters will simultaneously complement the heavier and more expensive specialized attack machines ordered by Seoul, such as the AH-64E Guardian.
LAH-1 Miron – a new helicopter from South Korea
The LAH-1 Miron is a new combat helicopter developed under the KHP (Korean Helicopter Program). The KHP program includes the heavier multirole machine KUH-1 Surion and the lighter model, classified as either a multirole or light attack helicopter, LAH-1 Miron, developed since 2021.
Though developed by the South Korean corporation KAI (Korea Aerospace Industries), the helicopter is based on the proven European design of the Airbus AS365 Dauphin.
TAipers anti-tank guided missile
The LAH-1 Miron helicopter is equipped with an optoelectronic TADS (Target Acquisition Designation System) head, and its standard armament includes a three-barreled, powered 20 mm cannon. The helicopter can also carry air-to-ground weapons developed by the local industry, including the TAipers anti-tank guided missiles (also known as Chungum), which have a range of 5 miles.
This is a new, Korean-developed anti-tank weapon capable of attacking targets that are invisible and beyond the line of sight (NLOS), as well as independently searching for them. Production of the pilot batch of TAipers missiles has already begun, with their entry into service planned for 2026.
