Lockheed Martin Proposes Joint Development of High-Speed Medium Utility Helicopter

[Financial News] Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest defense contractor, proposed jointly developing a high-speed medium utility helicopter (HSMUH) with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on the 9th, at an event attended by lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties on the National Assembly’s Defense Committee. This was the company’s second public proposal, following an initial one in July.
The proposal was made at a seminar titled “The Future of U.S.-Korea Defense Industry Cooperation,” jointly hosted that day by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM Korea) and People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Yong-won, a member of the Defense Committee. Dylan Landis, Asia-Pacific general manager for new business development at Sikorsky Aircraft, Lockheed Martin’s helicopter business subsidiary, presented a blueprint for the X2 HSMUH, saying, “We plan to pursue joint development with South Korea.”
Landis said South Korea’s helicopter manufacturing capabilities and supply chain are well suited to joint development and could provide an opportunity for further advancement. The plan is to jointly secure export orders once the helicopter enters mass production. He also emphasized that active technology transfer could contribute to the development of South Korea’s independent helicopter technology.
Landis’s presentation was delivered using part of the 20 minutes allotted to Wonik Lee, CEO of Lockheed Martin Korea. Kim Young-je, president of GE Aerospace Korea, used the full 20 minutes for his seminar presentation.
Earlier, Yoav Turgeman, CEO of Rafael Lockheed Martin, also proposed jointly developing the X2 HSMUH in his keynote address at the Global Defense Supply Chain Forum 2026 in July. Praising South Korea’s advanced weapons-system manufacturing capabilities and supply chain, he expressed a commitment to building an ecosystem covering the design, production and logistics support of the X2 HSMUH.

[email protected] Kim Yun-je Reporter