Why Helicopters Still Matter in the Drone Era, From Surion to Miron

The Miron (LAH) light armed helicopter conducts cold-weather flight tests. [Photo=KAI]

Helicopters remain central to army capabilities, serving as a key means of moving airborne troops and a potent tool for suppressing armored threats.

Once largely limited to troop transport, helicopters gained prominence during the Vietnam War as armed UH-1s equipped with machine guns and rockets helped turn them into frontline combat platforms. The U.S. Apache, built for heavy firepower, earned the nickname “tank killer.”

The Russia-Ukraine war has brought new pressure as inexpensive drones have shown they can strike tanks and armored vehicles, prompting arguments that cost-effective drones could eclipse expensive attack helicopters. The debate is now shaping how South Korea’s helicopter industry and military planners look ahead.

An image of the Surion helicopter. [Photo=KAI]

◆South Korea’s main helicopters: Surion and Miron
Army helicopter forces broadly center on two domestically developed aircraft: the Surion (KUH-1) transport helicopter and the Miron (LAH) light armed helicopter.

The Miron, which began being supplied to the army in 2024, carries a 20mm cannon, air-to-ground guided missiles and unguided rockets. Built for a two-person crew, it is optimized for maneuver and attack missions, including close air support and troop cover. It applies a modern fire-control system based on the Airbus Helicopters H155 platform.

The Surion is designed for transport. Developed to replace aging 500MD light attack helicopters and UH-1H light utility helicopters, it is South Korea’s first domestically developed medium utility helicopter. It can carry 13 troops and is fitted with a 7.62mm machine gun. Supplied to the army since 2012, more than 200 are in operation.

Korea Aerospace Industries, the main producer of the Surion and Miron, continues its rotorcraft business. According to filings in the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure system, KAI’s rotorcraft revenue as of last year’s third quarter totaled 269.544 billion won, or 12.3% of total revenue. In 2024, the Surion was exported to Iraq, and KAI has sought to expand overseas, including by joining a bid for attack helicopters in Bangladesh.

Marines with the Special Reconnaissance Brigade operate an FPV drone during an infiltration drill to strike a target on the 14th. [Photo=ROK Marine Corps]

◆Claims helicopters are obsolete — and the pushback
As drones have surged in the Ukraine war, the helicopter industry has entered a transition. Low-cost first-person-view, or FPV, drones with forward cameras have shown they can inflict significant damage on infantry and armored forces. Their ability to operate in swarms and deliver high cost-effectiveness has made them attractive on the battlefield, and the army is emphasizing training specialized drone personnel.

With drones emerging as a core capability, some in South Korea have argued helicopters are losing their role. Industry officials counter that while drones may affect parts of the market, they cannot fully replace missions unique to helicopters.

“Drones are cost-effective, but because they rely on communications, they are vulnerable to electronic attacks such as electromagnetic pulses,” one official said. “Helicopters have the advantage in complex missions such as troop transport, air assault, and battlefield command and control.”

The United States, described as the most advanced defense industry nation, has not halted helicopter modernization. It is pursuing upgrades to the Apache and Black Hawk while testing cockpit automation and unmanned operations. The V-280 Valor, being developed by Lockheed Martin and Bell, is drawing attention as a next-generation U.S. Army aircraft. It uses a tiltrotor design, taking off like a rotorcraft and then tilting its rotors forward in cruise so fixed wings provide lift.

Analysts also say South Korea needs to expand manned-unmanned teaming, or MUM-T, to strengthen helicopter forces. At a National Assembly seminar on Feb. 24 titled “The Future of Attack Helicopters and Drones,” results were presented showing that operating attack helicopters (Apache) in a MUM-T concept produced 91% enemy lethality and 83% friendly survivability, compared with 56% enemy lethality and 54% friendly survivability when operated alone.

Jang Won-jun, a professor in the Department of Advanced Defense Science and Technology at Jeonbuk National University, said the broad direction is to move away from operating manned helicopters alone and toward combining them with unmanned aircraft. Considering troop reductions and challenges in securing specialized personnel, he said, a phased shift toward unmanned operations is needed.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Oh Jooseok