March 26, 2009: South Korea has a problem with its 13 Bo-105 scout helicopters. Only two are capable of doing their job. The problem is a lack of spare parts for the TADS (Target Acquisition and Designation System), and that is because the company that made the TADS has gone out of business. The government is trying to get South Korean firms to build replacement parts. That takes time, so the Bo-105s will likely be out of action for months, or a year or more, before new equipment can be found. The Bo-105s entered service in 2001.
The TADS can spot vehicles 18 kilometers away during the day, and about five kilometers at night. TADS has a laser rangefinder and designator to provide targeting for laser guided missiles. While the Bo-105s are out of action, the AH-64s, equipped with the Longbow system (similar to TADS) will fill in. Both these choppers, and the Bo-105s are needed to keep track of North Korean armored forces in the event of a war.
