South Korea AH-1J/S Fleet Update
South Korea - Republic of Korea Army
| Date | Feb. 9, 2026 |
| Country | South Korea |
| Force | Republic of Korea Army |
| Aircraft | AH-1J/S (AH-1 Cobra) |
| Change | -1 active |
Description
An AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter assigned to the Army's 15th Aviation Group crashed at approximately 11:04 a.m. on February 9 during emergency procedure training involving simulated engine failure and landing practice in Gapyeong county, Gyeonggi Province, about 50 miles northeast of Seoul. Both warrant officers aboard were rushed to a nearby civilian hospital in cardiac arrest but were later pronounced dead. The South Korean Army immediately grounded its entire AH-1S Cobra fleet and established an accident investigation task force. The aging helicopter fleet, with some aircraft over 30 years old, is scheduled for retirement starting in 2028.
