Surion Granted Restricted-Type Certification for Civilian Use

As the Surion is granted a restricted type certification, KUHC-1 helicopters are to be delivered to fire-fighting stations.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) obtained a restricted-type certification on the Surion, a twin-engine transport utility helicopter, developed by KAI, from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) on May 24.

The Surion is also required to obtain airworthiness certifications for its use in military, police and maritime police functions, in accordance with the Defense Acquisition Program Act of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and fire-fighting and forest in accordance with the Aviation Safety Act from MOLIT.

The Surion’s obtaining of the restricted-type certification is expected to expand sales in the civilian market.

MOLIT issues the certification to vouch for the design and production of the Surion as adapted for transporting civilian patients and performing missions, such as firefighting.

The type of the Surion, which has obtained the restricted type certification is dubbed KUHC (Civil)-1. The KUHC-1 Surion is additionally outfitted with a weather radar.

A first KUHC-1 helicopter is to be delivered to Gyeongnam fire-fighting station in June while 2nd and 3rd copters will be supplied to the National 119 Rescue Headquarters by October.

The Korean public helicopter market is expected to undergo changes.

The number of public helicopters operated by government agencies, such as the National Police Agency, Korea Coast Guard (KCG), Korea Forest Service and National Fire Agency, stands at 116. The bulk of the helicopters in operation are foreign made.

Out of the total, 62 are more than 21 years old, causing misgivings over safety and rising maintenance costs. The number of Korean-made helicopters, including home-made supplies, to be delivered, stands at 20 - or 17 percent.

The Surion is superior in terms of safety and maneuverability compared to foreign counterparts, and it could dramatically reduce maintenance and repair costs.

Out of 47 copters for fire-fighting use, only the Surion had done a good job in extinguishing recent bush fires in Uljin during nighttime. A KAI official said, “The Surion’s obtaining a restricted-type certification from MOLIT redoubles its safety and reliability, thus allowing it to replace old foreign-made copters.”

Ahn Hyun-ho, president & CEO, Korea Aerospace Industries, and Lockheed Martin President Greg Ulmer pose for the T-50 Teaming Agreement signing ceremony. (Photos: KAI)

KAI, Lockheed Martin Strike Agreement for Future T-50 Opportunities

Korea Aerospace Industries signed a partnership with Lockheed Martin on June 9 in which the former agreed to enter the U.S. market in earnest.

Both sides’ signing of the Teaming Agreement has raised their collaboration to strategic levels.

They agreed to cooperate in the sales of more than 1,000 T-50 s. The FA-50 is a variant of KAI's T-50 supersonic trainer jet, co-developed by Lockheed Martin and KAI.

They agreed to operate a steering committee, a strategic cooperative body in all areas, including not only production and marketing, but design, aircraft improvement and plant expansion for FA-50 advanced tactical trainers, to be supplied to the U.S. air force and navy.

The two companies shred the view they would make a joint raid in the global trainer/light attacker market whose demand is estimated at 500 units on top of the U.S. market.