KAI, Airbus Helicopters to collaborate on choppers for marine operations

[THE INVESTOR] Korea Aerospace Industries is to enter the market for choppers designed for maritime operations in collaboration with Airbus Helicopters, the Korean company said June 17. The arrangement was announced at the Eurosatory defense exposition held in Paris. 

For the project, the two companies will build maritime operations helicopters based on the KAI KUH-1 Surion. Surion is a transport utility helicopter developed by KAI and Airbus Helicopters.

According to KAI, the market for maritime operations helicopters is valued at about 70 trillion won (US$60 billion). About 1,100 units of such aircrafts are in operation and the company projects that about 250 will be replaced over the next 10 years. KAI and Airbus estimate that between 60 and 120 Surion-based units could be exported.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)