Engine Defect Found in Army's Next-Generation Attack Helicopter MIROON, Flights Suspended

Corrosion Found in 82% of Engines
Defense Acquisition Program Administration Vows "Thorough Management to Prevent Recurrence"

It has been confirmed that all flights of the Army's next-generation domestically produced attack helicopter, the LAH-1 MIROON, have been completely suspended since April 2026 following the discovery of an engine defect.

Light armed helicopter Miron. Defense Acquisition Program Administration

According to the office of Kang Sunyoung, a member of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, and others on June 13, corrosion was found in 47 out of 57 MIROON engines assembled and supplied by Hanwha Aerospace, and among these, cracks were additionally identified in 38 engines.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration ordered a flight suspension for all 15 MIROON helicopters delivered to the Army after confirming the defect in April, in order to ensure safety.

A government official explained, "It has been determined that corrosion and cracking occurred due to an anomaly in the 'diffuser' component, which maintains airflow inside the engine," adding, "It appears that issues arose during the process of changing the engine assembly method."

The engine installed in the MIROON is manufactured by Safran of France and has been assembled and supplied domestically by Hanwha Aerospace. Some have raised concerns that the defect may have occurred because a component that required heat treatment for assembly was instead fitted using a rubber mallet.

In response, Hanwha Aerospace stated, "A rubber mallet was used as an auxiliary tool during the process of heating and expanding a component before combining it with another part," adding, "We are currently improving the process and carrying out restoration work." It is reported that the restored engines are scheduled to be delivered starting next month.

However, within the military, there are concerns that it could take considerable time to secure the reliability of engines that have developed cracks. A military official said, "Even after repairs are completed, it is difficult to predict how long it will take to restore the reliability of engines that have experienced cracking," adding, "Because the engine is a core component where even minor anomalies can lead to reduced output or operational failure, this is a highly sensitive issue."

It is known that the original manufacturer, Safran, did not detect the defect during the quality verification process. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration explained, "This defect was identified when the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, which is the government quality assurance agency, and the Army as the user, conducted additional borescope inspections (a type of non-destructive testing) beyond the routine inspections performed by the original manufacturer." Some point out that if the defect had not been detected early, it could have led to a major accident.

The MIROON project aims to deploy around 160 units in active service by 2031, with a total investment of 5.75 trillion won. The helicopter is to be equipped with air-to-ground guided missiles such as the Cheongeom and will carry out missions including striking enemy tanks and supporting airborne assault troops with its machine gun. However, there are growing concerns that the engine defect may disrupt the force integration schedule.

Assemblywoman Kang emphasized, "The engine defect is a serious issue that can lead not only to reduced output during flight but, in the worst case, to engine shutdown, directly endangering the pilot’s life," adding, "While timely force integration is important, it is paramount to fully resolve defects that threaten pilot safety and establish a reliable assembly process."

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration stated, "We plan to closely cooperate with relevant agencies and companies to swiftly carry out defect repairs and follow-up measures, and to minimize the impact on the force integration schedule," adding, "Taking this case as an opportunity, we will comprehensively review and improve the quality management system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.