The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) visited the Army Aviation Command and its subordinate 601st Aviation Battalion on March 3 to assess operational satisfaction with UH-60 helicopters deployed for wildfire suppression and gather improvement suggestions.
DAPA upgraded the UH-60's capabilities last year. The agency replaced the externally mounted 1,600-liter bambi bucket with a 3,218-liter high-capacity water tank that can be attached and detached inside the aircraft, reducing safety accident risks. An electronic control release system was also installed to improve drop accuracy over fire sites.
The upgraded helicopter was first deployed in large-scale wildfire suppression operations in South Gyeongsang Province last month. Pilots and maintenance personnel who operated the aircraft attended the meeting and recommended installing infrared cameras on the underside of the aircraft and adding real-time video transmission capabilities.
DAPA plans to develop new research and development projects with relevant agencies including the Korea Forest Service and the National Fire Agency to pursue additional performance enhancement programs based on the feedback received.