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South Korean Utility Helicopter Rolls Out
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By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
South Korea rolled out the first prototype of its high-end Korea Utility Helicopter (KUH) Friday, becoming the 11th nation in the world to develop an indigenous rotary-wing aircraft.
The Surion helicopter, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with technical assistance from Eurocopter since June 2006, will begin operation with the Army, the Marine Corps and other civil services after 2011 after flight and ground tests, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said.
Development of the KUH is scheduled to end in June 2012, and mass production is expected to start later. About 245 KUHs will be manufactured to replace the Army's aging UH-1H and 500MD fleets.
The agency and KAI forecast that KUHs could replace about 300 of 1,000 transport helicopters globally over the next 25 years, the agency said in a news release.
The Surion also could be converted into an attack helicopter equipped with indigenous armament, and other sensor and avionics systems, it said.
A roll-out ceremony held in Sacheon, about 438 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was attended by about 800 government officials and developer representatives.
``The successful development will mark a turning point for Korea's bid to become an advanced nation with strong defense capability,'' President Lee Myung-bak said in a congratulatory speech.
Lee Yeon-seup, senior manager and chief of the KUH program management division at KAI, said the Surion will offer the best troop carrying and projection capabilities to the Army, as it has been designed for Korea's specific territorial and climate conditions.
The 8.7 metric ton class aircraft is able to hover at 9,258 feet with a climbing speed of 500 feet per minute, he said.
``The Surion will be able to conduct missions all over the Korean territory,'' Lee said. ``Simply, the ground troops can operate at North Korea's highest point, Baekdu Mountain, at a height of 9,012 feet in an emergency.''
The Surion features a variety of state-of-the-art technologies including a four-axis digital automatic flight-control system, a cockpit with multifunctional liquid crystal displays and an engine health and usage monitoring system.
Survivability gears include laser warning receivers, a missile warning system, chaff and flare dispensers, an electronic warfare commander and infrared countermeasures.
The helicopter has a top speed of 240 kilometers per hour and can carry two pilots and 11 troops. It can stay in the air for well over two hours.
Weapons systems include two sets of 7.62-milimeter machine guns and a ``friend-or-foe'' identification system.
In June 2006, KAI and Eurocopter inked the 1.3 trillion-won research and development contract, Seoul's biggest arms deal ever with a non-U.S. company.
A production contract worth about 4.4 trillion won is expected to be signed around 2011 before the start of mass production.
Eurocopter has a stake of 30 percent in the 2006-2012 development phase and 20 percent in the following 10-year production phase.
As the prime contractor, Eurocopter has provided technical assistance and has supplied the power transmission, automatic flight control system and rotor mast. It also provided technical assistance for certain sub-assemblies.
source from: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/07/205_49421.html |
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KAI and Eurocopter reveal the Surion
July 31, 2009
Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Eurocopter have rolled out the first prototype Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH).
Dubbed the Surion, the 1.3 trillion won (US$1 billion) KUH project has developed Korea's first homegrown helicopter, designed specially for the requirements of the South Korean armed forces.
The first aircraft was unveiled at a special ceremony at the KAI factory at Sacheon, attended by President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Myung-bak.
Dr Lutz Bertling, President and CEO of Eurocopter said: “The on-time rollout of the Korean prototype today is an important milestone and a clear proof of our successful collaboration with KAI. It has been an enriching experience in terms of technological and multi-cultural exchange for both our teams.
"I am convinced that the Korean Utility Helicopter is a technological advancement within the field of military helicopters and that it will fully meet Korea’s future needs”.
As a System Integrator of the KUH, KAI said: “It is significant to have the KUH rolled out as scheduled because it means our customer will have this advanced helicopter as initially planned.
"This KUH will be a leading helicopter in the near future, which adapts state-of-the-art technologies to enhance the survivability and the mission capability as a multi-mission helicopter and it will satisfy the worldwide needs chasing upgraded efficiency in various operations with these advantages.”
KAI has used local manufacturers for 60 percent of the aircraft's parts, including the rotor blades and health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS). Eurocopter have provided the gearboxes, rotor mast and autopilot. The company has also provided technical assistance by dispatching experts to Korea.
The KUH programme was launched in 2006 and both parties say it is running to schedule. The prototype is due to fly early next year and will eventually be joined by a further three flight test aircraft.
The first aircraft are due to enter service with the Republic of Korea Army in 2012.
Some 245 KUHs are on order and will replace existing utility helicopters in the South Korean Army fleet including UH-1Hs and MD500s. KUHs will be tasked with troop assault, search and rescue, tactical lift, liaison and medical evacuation operations. There are also plans to build a commercial version of the KUH with ambitions to sell around 300 worldwide through a joint venture between the two companies.
The aircraft bears a striking resemblance to the Puma, indeed many of the new systems developed for the KUH have been tested on a Puma at the Eurocopter plant in Marignane.
By Tony Osborne - Rotorhub.com Editorial Team
When can v hv our own 1.. wit Eurocopter help?
source from: http://www.shephard.co.uk/news/3 ... -reveal-the-surion/ |
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4# yaminz
yes the design is from Puma |
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Looks decent and good for them. RESPECT to the Koreans. Bila diorang (Both Gov and People) nak someting, diorang betul2 akan work for it sampai berjaya. |
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Size tak beso...lebih kurang AW139 aje. Aku rasa kurang sesuai utk ulility pasal sederhana size aje! FLIR pun dah siap ada so heli ni untuk patrol atau small trup transport sahaja la. Tapi kalau kat M'sia ni cun utk VIP transport la |
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Cun jugak, kalu harga tak mahal tapi tech dier bagus, elok jugak kita beli, at leats heli nih bleh support EC725 |
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3# gancity
Ermmmm boleh tahan gak walaupun dsgn mcm puma .... ader can tak kiter beli dari diorang eik .... |
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bila masuk bab nak suruh org kita buat sendiri aku teringat plak kes kapal ngv kita tu ..
anyway, cun dan tmbh cun kalo tarok roket pod , atau starstreak ker .. |
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Post time 3-8-2009 10:32 AM
变色卡
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