Seoul picks four Sikorsky S-92A+ helicopters for presidential fleet renewal

The Republic of Korea Air Force has selected Sikorsky to supply four S-92A+ helicopters under its Presidential Helicopter II program, replacing aircraft delivered in 2007. Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky's parent, has not disclosed the contract value or a delivery schedule — a silence worth noting, given the sums involved.

South Korea has allocated roughly 873 billion won, about $643 million, to the broader procurement program, according to local reporting by Hankyung. The program runs through 2031, when the ROKAF expects to begin replacing its current presidential rotorcraft. The overall budget should not be mistaken for the value of Sikorsky's contract; the two figures answer different questions.

What does the package include?

The selection covers more than airframes. Sikorsky will supply special mission equipment and sustainment support, including critical spare parts and field service representatives. Korea Aviation Engineering & Maintenance Service, a subsidiary of Korea Aerospace Industries, will install the mission equipment in South Korea.

That industrial detail carries weight in Seoul. Wonik Lee, Lockheed Martin's country executive for South Korea, said the selection reflected the two countries' longstanding defense partnership and industrial cooperation, and highlighted KAEMS's participation in the program. Offsets, in practice, speak louder than press releases.

Which aircraft are being replaced?

The ROKAF took delivery of three S-92 helicopters in 2007 and has flown them for presidential transport since. The type has broader reach within the South Korean government: the Korea Coast Guard operates the S-92 for search and rescue, while the National 119 Rescue Headquarters, part of the National Fire Agency, flies it for firefighting and rescue missions.

The S-92 also underpins the US Marine Corps' VH-92A Patriot presidential helicopter. The Corps accepted the 23rd and final VH-92A in August 2024, and the type carried President Joe Biden as Marine One for the first time on August 19, 2024. Seoul is, in effect, buying into a platform with an established head-of-state pedigree.

What changes with the S-92A+?

According to Lockheed Martin, the S-92A+ features upgraded engines, a new Phase IV main gearbox, and increased payload or fuel capacity over earlier variants. The upgraded GE CT7-8A6 engines and structural reinforcements raise maximum gross weight to 27,700 pounds — 12,565 kilograms — enabling an additional 1,200 pounds, or 544 kilograms, of payload or fuel.

The Phase IV gearbox auxiliary lubrication system is designed to let the helicopter complete a flight safely after a loss of primary oil pressure. For a presidential mission profile, that margin is not a luxury item.

Is the production line ready?

Sikorsky announced preparations for its first S-92A+ production batch in March 2026, after an order for two aircraft from an unnamed country, again for head-of-state transport. That initial batch was to comprise the two helicopters plus three additional aircraft.

The company says it is ramping up production in Stratford, Connecticut, and Owego, New York, with capacity for up to 12 S-92A+ helicopters annually. A claimed rate is not a delivered rate; South Korea's four units, set against that ceiling, suggest the Stratford line has room to spare.

Lockheed Martin puts the global S-92 fleet at more than 2.6 million flight hours, with over 300 helicopters delivered to operators across 28 countries. The figure is a manufacturer's own tally, but it aligns with two decades of sustained offshore, SAR and VIP operations.

With contract value and delivery dates still undisclosed, the next verifiable milestone will be the timing of KAEMS's first installation work — and whether the 2031 replacement deadline survives contact with the production schedule.