ED Malfunctioning choppers

The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has found the nation’s transport utility helicopter Surion has various defects that make it unreliable.

The Surion lacks lightning protection and anti-icing capabilities while failing to receive proper engine certification, according to the state auditing agency. The indigenous chopper, which even has a water leakage problem, also fell short in 29 out of 101 categories on safety tests to determine whether it can withstand the tough conditions of winter.

The BAI asked the prosecution to investigate Chang Myoung-jin, head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), and two other officials for breach of trust. Chang, a university classmate of the imprisoned former President Park Geun-hye, is charged with deciding last December that the Surion choppers were ready for operation although they failed to meet airworthiness qualifications. Chang and other officials at the arms acquisition agency are suspected of intervening in the Surion project to let Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the helicopter’s manufacturer, off the hook.

Korea invested nearly 1.3 trillion won ($1.1 billion) to develop the helicopter, which was completed in July 2012. Since then, the military has been using 60 Surions in the field.

But various accidents occurred since the chopper went into operation. In January and February 2015, two Surions made emergency landings following engine failures, while another helicopter crash-landed owing to the same problem.

On Friday, prosecutors searched the offices of KAI over allegations regarding several major defense projects, including the development of a supersonic trainer jet. So the Surion case is just another example of rampant corruption in our defense industry.

Irregularities related to weapons development are surely a grave crime that can undermine national security. Furthermore, North Korea’s aggressive nuclear and missile development programs are making the public more apprehensive now than ever before.

Defense reform was one of President Moon Jae-in’s major campaign promises. Not surprisingly, uprooting corruption is probably the most important task in his strong push for defense reform. New Defense Minister Song Young-moo should be well aware of the people’s wishes and give top priority to rooting out irregularities in the defense sector.