KAH-106 Bonghwang

KAH-106 Bonghwang
KAH-106 Bonghwang flies over Gwangju Metropolitan City.
Role	Attack helicopter
National origin	Joseon
Manufacturer	Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd.
First flight	January 14 2006
Introduction	9 April 2009(Block I) 6 May 2031(Block II)
Status	In service
Primary user	Royal Joseon Army
Produced	2006-Present

The Korea Aerospace Industries KAH-106 Bonghwang is a Joseon's twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. Nose-mounted sensors help acquire targets and provide night vision. It carries a 30 mm (1.18 in) KM208 chain gun under its forward fuselage and 4 hardpoints on stub-wing pylons for armament and stores, typically AGM-41 missiles and Doksa-70 rocket pods. Redundant systems help it survive combat damage.

The KAH-106 began to be developed in 2001 as the army's next-generation large attack helicopter, with the first prototype flying in 2006. Today, KAH-106 has been extensively improved to ensure its viability and diversify its role as drones expand their role on the battlefield.

Like all other combat equipment and vehicles of the Royal Joseon Armed Forces, the KAH-106 is also integrated into the Joseon's Battle Management System(BMS), 'Gongmyeong-2E,' sharing real-time information about battlefields and changes in conditions with other units and aircraft, vehicles, and ships.

Development

Until the early 2000s, the main attack helicopter of the Royal Joseon Army was the KH-601 'Chamsae' equipped with anti-tank missiles and rockets. However, the KH-601 did not escape the basic limits of a lightweight reconnaissance helicopter, and even the slightest bad weather, which could be easily overcome by a large helicopter, was a threat to the KH-601.

The Royal Joseon Armed Forces felt the need for a more effective large attack helicopter to replace KH-601. The Joseon military noted that Neo-Korea's helicopters at the time of the Invasion of Jungg'o effectively deterred Jungg'o's troops. It proved that attack helicopters were effective in deterring large numbers of troops with only a few troops on the battlefield. Eventually, the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly approved the Ministry of Defense's plan to develop a new attack helicopter.

Korea Aerospace Industries(KAI), which was the main contractor of the project, had to design a completely new aircraft frame. This was because none of Joseon's existing helicopters were suitable for converting to attack helicopters. After the project began, it took three years for the basic design of the aircraft to be finalized. To meet the military's demand to quickly replace KH-601, KAI immediately started the entire process needed to prototype after the design was finalized.

The first prototype of the new attack helicopter, the XH-106, made its first flight on January 14, 2006. However, the project faced a crisis when the budget for new attack helicopters was drastically cut in the 2007 Ministry of Defense budget, during which the Ministry of Defense and the Army strongly appealed the need for an attack helicopter while delaying the purchase budget for the new tank until next year to prevent budget cuts. Eventually, the budget for the new attack helicopter remained the same during the 2007 budget review process, and the budget for the new tank was maintained due to the National Assembly's National Defense Committee's criticism, resulting in the Army protecting the project without losing money.

The first KAH-106 attack helicopter was delivered to The 1st Combat Aviation Brigade in April 2009.

Design

The KAH-106 Bonghwang has a five-blade main rotor and a four-blade tail rotor. The crew sits in tandem, with the pilot sitting behind and above the co-pilot/gunner. Both crew members are capable of flying the aircraft and performing methods of weapon engagements independently. The KAH-106 is powered by two Hanwha Aerospace TST-6 turboshaft engines with high-mounted exhausts on either side of the fuselage.

The crew compartment and rotor blades are designed to sustain a hit from 23 mm (0.91 in) rounds. The airframe includes some 2,500 lb (1,100 kg) of protection and has a self-sealing fuel system to protect against ballistic projectiles. The crew compartment also incorporates a transparent blast shield between the pilot and gunner seats so that at least one crew member can survive in the event of a direct hit, but the canopy and windows are otherwise unrated against ballistic threats.

On a standard day, when temperatures are 25 °C, the KAH-106 has a vertical rate of climb of 1,775 feet per minute (541 m/min), and a service ceiling of 21,000 feet (6,400 m). However, on a hot day, when temperatures are 36 °C, its vertical rate of climb is reduced to 1,595 fpm (486 m/min), and service ceiling is reduced to 19,400 feet (5,900 m) due to less dense air.

Avionics

One of the revolutionary features of the KAH-106 was its helmet mounted display, the Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADSS), among its capabilities, either the pilot or gunner can slave the helicopter's 30 mm automatic KM208 Chain Gun to their helmet, making the gun track head movements to point where they look. The KM208 can be alternatively fixed to a locked forward firing position, or controlled via the Target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS).

The KAH-106 was designed to perform in front-line environments, and to operate at night or day and during adverse weather conditions. Various sensors and onboard avionics allows the KAH-106 to perform in these conditions; such systems include the Target Acquisition and Designation System, Pilot Night Vision System (TADS/PNVS), passive infrared countermeasures, KPS(Joseon's satellite navigation system), and the IHADSS. "Janggung" radar-equipped KAH-106 can locate up to 256 targets simultaneously within 50 km (31 mi). In June 2025, 126 Royal Joseon Army KAH-106s were equipped with the Ground Fire Acquisition System (GFAS), which detects and targets ground-based weapons fire sources in all-light conditions and with a 120° visual field. The GFAS consists of two sensor pods working with the KAH-106's other sensors, and a thermographic camera that precisely locates muzzle flashes.

Armament

The KAH-106 is adaptable to numerous different roles within its context as Close Combat Attack (CCA). In addition to the 30 mm KM208 Chain Gun, the KAH-106 carries a range of external stores and weapons on its stub-wing pylons, typically a mixture of AGM-41 anti-tank missiles, and Doksa-70 general-purpose unguided 70 mm (2.75 in) rockets. The AGM-41 is designed to defeat stationary or moving tanks as far away as 6,500 meters. Additionally, the AH-106 is capable of integrating and operating KP-SAM Chiron or AIM-9 air-to-air missiles. In this case, the air-to-air missiles are operated with one or two on either end of the stub-wings.

Block II

In 2029, KAI initiated an upgrade to Block II at the request of the Ministry of Defence. The upgrades included securing operational capabilities for the loitering munition, linking with UAVs, and improving the performance of the Janggung radar.

The KAH-106 Block II may, as required, be equipped with LMQ-20 anti-tank loitering munitions instead of anti-tank missiles and rockets in the stub-wing pylons. In this case, the KAH-106 may be equipped with up to 64 loitering munitions to operate. The launched LMQ-20s operate with their own AI(Artificial Intelligence), but can be controlled directly by the rear seat pilot of the KAH-106 as needed.

KAH-106 Block II can serve as a mothership for KMQ-122 unmanned helicopters. KAH-106 can control up to six KMQ-122s, which can spy on target points or direct weapons to targets through KMQ-122.

The upgraded Janggung radar has increased detection range from 8km to 14km, providing the ability to engage with up to 32 targets simultaneously.

Operators

• Joseon
  • Royal Joseon Armed Forces
    • Royal Joseon Army

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 (pilot, and co-pilot/gunner)
• Length: 17.73 m
• Fuselage length: 15.06 m
• Wingspan: 13.05 m
• Height: 3.87 m
• Main rotor diameter: 14.63 m
• Main rotor area: 1,908.5 sq ft (177.31 m2) 5-bladed main-rotor and 4-bladed tail-rotor in non-orthogonal alignment
• Empty weight: 11,387 lb (5,165 kg)
• Gross weight: 17,650 lb (8,006 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 23,000 lb (10,433 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 12,915 lb (5,858 kg) internal
• Powerplant: 2 × Hanwha Aerospace TST-6 turboshaft engines, 1,890 shp (1,409 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 158 kn (182 mph, 293 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 143 kn (165 mph, 265 km/h)
• Never exceed speed: 197 kn (227 mph, 365 km/h)
• Range: 257 nmi (296 mi, 476 km) with Janggung radar mast
• Combat range: 260 nmi (300 mi, 480 km)
• Ferry range: 1,024 nmi (1,178 mi, 1,896 km)
• Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
• Disk loading: 9.8 lb/sq ft (48 kg/m2)
• Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (0.30 kW/kg)

Armament

• Gun: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) KM208 Chain Gun with 1,200 rounds as part of the Area Weapon Subsystem
• Hardpoints: 4 pylon stations on the stub wings. KAH-106 also have a station on each wingtip for an KP-SAM Chiron twin missile pack or AIM-9 missile.
• Rockets: Doksa-70 70 mm air-to-ground rockets
• Missiles: AGM-41 Variants.
• Drones: LMQ-20 loitering munition. Up to 64 munitions.

Avionics

• "Janggung" radar