Lockheed Martin company Sikorsky announced on November 6, 2026, that it has been selected to deliver four next-generation S-92A+ helicopters to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) under the ₩873 billion (~$610 million) Presidential Helicopter II (Command Helicopter II) replacement program.
The selection expands ROKAF’s executive transport fleet from three to four airframes and continues nearly two decades of presidential transport provided by the baseline S-92 since 2007. Under the contract framework, Sikorsky will manufacture the aircraft at its production facilities in Stratford, Connecticut, and Owego, New York. In-country specialized mission equipment completion, final integration, and long-term sustainment will be conducted in South Korea by Korea Aviation Engineering & Maintenance Service (KAEMS), a subsidiary of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). Initial deliveries of the modernized presidential fleet are scheduled to begin by 2031.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: SIKORSKY S-92A+ EXECUTIVE / HEAD-OF-STATE ARCHITECTURE
Airframe Kinematics, Propulsion & Powerplant Enhancements
⚡ Aircraft OEM: Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company (Stratford, Connecticut)
⚡ Domestic In-Country Integrator: Korea Aviation Engineering & Maintenance Service (KAEMS / Sacheon, ROK)
⚡ Fleet Procurement Quantity: 4× S-92A+ Heavy-Lift Executive Helicopters (upgrading legacy 3× S-92 fleet)
⚡ Powerplant Architecture: 2× Upgraded General Electric CT7-8A6 turboshaft engines delivering increased thermal margin and power output in high-altitude/hot-temperature operational envelopes
⚡ Gearbox & Transmission Suite: Phase IV Main Gearbox featuring an advanced auxiliary lubrication system with FlyHome™ capability (enabling extended operation following primary lube pressure loss)
⚡ Aircraft Dimensions & Cabin Envelope:
• Stand-Up Cabin Height: 6.0 ft (1.83 m) with custom soundproofing, secure VIP conferencing layouts, and high-egress emergency doors
• MTOW & Fuel Margin: Increased payload and auxiliary fuel capacity options, expanding unrefueled executive range and operational endurance 
Avionics, Defensive Self-Protection & Secure C4I Payload
💥 Flight Deck & Navigation Automation: Matrix™ tech-derived digital glass cockpit featuring Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS), TCAS II, and real-time Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) with advanced anomaly detection
💥 Environmental Survivability: Rotor Ice Protection System (RIPS) certified for continuous all-weather flight into known icing conditions
💥 Head-of-State Defensive & Communications Suite (KAEMS In-Country Integration):
• Integrated Radar Warning Receivers (RWR), Missile Approach Warning Systems (MAWS), and Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) turrets to defeat MANPADS threats
• Encrypted multi-band Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Ku/Ka-band Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) SATCOM suites enabling continuous airborne command post connectivity for the President of the Republic of Korea
TIMES OF DEFENCE ASSESSMENT
The selection of the Sikorsky S-92A+ for the ROKAF Presidential Helicopter II program reflects key defense industrial and operational strategy:
1. **Leveraging Platform Continuity and Operational Lineage**: ROKAF has operated three S-92 airframes for presidential transport since 2007, alongside additional S-92 units operated by the Korea Coast Guard and National Fire Agency. Transitioning to the modernized S-92A+ variant minimizes pilots’ conversion training, relies on existing maintenance infrastructure, and avoids the heavy non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs associated with introducing a completely foreign platform baseline.
2. **Deepening Domestic Industrial Participation via KAEMS/KAI**: By assigning mission equipment completion, specialized avionics integration, and field service representation to KAEMS, South Korea retains sovereign capability over its head-of-state C4I, electronic self-protection, and communications systems. This arrangement bolsters domestic defense manufacturing while guaranteeing high fleet availability for national security missions.
3. **Validating Global Demand for Heavy VIP Platforms**: The ROKAF decision solidifies the S-92’s position as a dominant platform for head-of-state transport, joining 13 other nations—and echoing the U.S. Marine Corps’ VH-92A Patriot program derived from the same base airframe. Expanding production in Connecticut and New York to up to 12 airframes per year underscores Sikorsky’s focus on maintaining long-term industrial throughput across both commercial energy and head-of-state markets.
