KAI KUH-1 Surion

European union European Union

The KAI Surion is a military helicopter in the 8 - ton class. The Surion is a joint development by Korea Aerospace Industries ( KAI ) and Eurocopter as part of the Korean Utility Helicopter Program (English Korean Utility Helicopter ). He was presented to the public on 31 July 2009 for the first time, the first flight of the prototype took place on 10 March 2010.

Objectives

The helicopter will replace older models such as the UH -1 and MD 500 Korean armed forces and also serve as a technical basis for a whole range of other in-house developments of the Korean Helicopter Program KPH, so planning.

Program partnership

It is being developed as part of the KHP (Korean Helicopter Program to German Korean Helicopter Program ) of KAI with the support of Eurocopter and 17 other South Korean and 11 foreign companies. Eurocopter was selected in 2005 by the South Korean government as a partner and the contract was signed on 26 June 2006. The program was launched in 2006 and on 31 July 2009 the first prototype was in the South Korean KAI- work completed in Sacheon. As of 2011, then 245 units at a price of about 32 million U.S. dollars apiece to the South Korean army to be delivered.

Exports

In 2007, it was agreed in a memorandum of understanding for the export market, a joint company ( joint venture ) to establish, at the KAI and Eurocopter to keep 51% 49%. This will be responsible for the marketing and export of the helicopter to other countries.

Specifications

The Surion is equipped with a fixed landing gear and is equipped with a FLIR. In external appearance strongly reminiscent of the Super Puma Eurocopter. In addition to technical support, the European partner also supplies the transmission, rotor mast and the autopilot. The drive serve two about 1800 kW turbine -shaft engines with FADEC.