It has been revealed through an investigation that the Korea Coast Guard’s utilization rate of Russian-made helicopters has fallen short of 50 percent this year. The primary reason attributed to the decline is the disruption in parts supply, which has been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
According to data from the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) on Oct. 9, the operational rate of Russian-made Kamov KA-32 helicopters this year stands at 49.8 percent, falling short of the average operational rate by half.
The Kamov helicopters were acquired by the South Korean government as part of a US$1.47 billion (1.99 trillion won) economic cooperation package provided to the former Soviet Union. Among the 19 helicopters currently held by the KCG, seven of them are Kamov helicopters.
Unlike conventional ones, these helicopters primarily utilize coaxial contra-rotating rotors and are mainly employed for maritime rescue operations in adverse weather conditions and large-scale wildfire suppression missions.
However, the low operational rate of the KCG’s Kamov helicopters this year is at a critical level. The primary reason for this has been the prolonged disruption in parts supply due to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has persisted since last year.
When examining the helicopter-specific operational data by agency, it is evident that the Western Regional Coast Guard, where half of the fleet comprises Kamov helicopters, is facing an even more severe issue with an operational rate of 55.8 percent.
Regarding the Kamov helicopters, a defense industry insider said, “Unlike modern helicopters that typically accumulate over 2,000 hours of flight before requiring parts replacement, the Kamov KA-32 helicopters, which were introduced over 30 years ago, need parts inspections at intervals of a few hundred hours.”