It’s been a civil war since 1978. The US getting involved doesn’t change that.

I didn’t forget to factor in the licensing fees. I was just thinking that Korea would try to minimize fees as much as possible while negotiating technology transfer. Korea did this for the T-50 by making Lockheed an 11% partner. Then again, Korea may not be able to get this kind of agreement from Eurocopter (likely) or Boeing (most certainly). However, I believe it is their preferred strategy.

the two projects are in fact linked as I believe that the KAH project will be the AH-X.

Those two programs are seperate.

The Koreans will then figure out how to make it 20% cheaper and then sell it to Turkey and South Asia. Thus, once 3rd party countries essentially pay for the R&D and initial production costs, they can then use the savings to by those vaunted 200+ helos as planned.

That’s an interesting concept, assuming that it works as planned. You also forgot to factor in the licensing fees that Korea will have to pay to Eurocopter or some other manufacturer for the technology that will go into the domestic attack helo. BTW Turkey has already signed up for an attack helo called the T129, which is an A129 customized to meet Turkish requirements.

I got the AH-X and KAH projects confused. Althought ultimately, the two projects are in fact linked as I believe that the KAH project will be the AH-X.

Using the powerplant of a utility helo for an attack helo is a bad idea. The South Africans tried to do it for their Rooivalk and it’s never worked as expected.

The Koreans will try (not sure if they will be sucessful) to get Eurocopter to share technology to a point where they can call it the KAH-20 or something of that nature. Something like how the Chinese got the Italians to share Agusta technology to come up with the Z-10. The Koreans will then figure out how to make it 20% cheaper and then sell it to Turkey and South Asia. Thus, once 3rd party countries essentially pay for the R&D and initial production costs, they can then use the savings to by those vaunted 200+ helos as planned.

Between the Apache and the Eurocopter Tiger, Korea will pick the one that is willing to give it the most technology transfer. Korea will want some tech transfer so it can keep the hopes of a native Korean AH-X afloat

Actually, the Apache was selected by the ROK Army as part of the AH-X program. The government just didn’t give the go ahead to sign the contract and release the funds.

There is an indigenious attack helo project called the KAH. It will use technology from the KUH utility helo which in turn uses technology from the Eurocopter Puma. (However, Eurocopter is offering the Tiger as the basis for the KAH, but the ROK hasn’t made a decision.)The only thing I don’t understand about the KAH is where the ROK will find the dough to build 275 of them.

Also, there’s a shortage of European helos, only partially mitigated by the Brits with their Apaches. Thus you have American Apaches escorting the convoys of numerous nations, and the need to send 36 more from Korea.

And the more people who think their AK-47 can take down an Apache, the better. Keep the myth alive.