Posted on 03/16/2015 6:22:54 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
PARIS --- Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) to develop and manufacture 314 light helicopters in South Korea, a company official confirmed March 16. The contract was signed by the two companies’ chief executives in Seoul, Korea, earlier today.
The contract, worth an estimated $3 billion, calls for joint development of 214 Light Attack Helicopters (LAH) and about 100 Light Civil Helicopters (LCH), based on the technology of the latest version of the Airbus AS365B1 Dauphin twin-engined medium helicopter, now re-designated H155. The two companies will share revenues from the contract on an even basis.
"This contract of exceptional size is for the development and construction of 214 military attack helicopters and around 100 civilian aircraft," said Norbert Ducrot, vice-president for Airbus Helicopters in northern Asia, told Reuters March 16. “The development and production contract is worth 1.5 billion euros to Airbus Helicopters over 20 years," he added.
Airbus HC will contribute its technology and know-how, and will manufacture some parts and components at its main facility in Marignane, France, while KAI will be responsible for some manufacturing as well as final assembly at its facility in Sacheon. The LCH is scheduled to enter service in 5-6 years, followed a year later by the military LAH.
“This agreement is all the more significant that it includes an export aspect,” Ducrot told Agence Frace Presse. Airbus estimates the world market for the LCH/LAH family at around 600 helicopters “which for Airbus could mean sales of several billion euros over the next 20 years if you include support and maintenance,” he said. Ducrot added that Airbus has sold about 1,000 Dauphin family helicopters world-wide, and with this new cooperation agreement we think we can double it over the next 20 years.”
This is Airbus Helicopters’ second major victory in South Korea, as it has already helped KAI to develop the KUH-1 Surion, a larger twin-engined model which is being developed in four variants for the Korean military and other government agencies.
Export marketing and sales for the Surion are handled by a joint venture company set up by KAI and Airbus Helicopters, and a similar arrangement is planned for the light helicopter programs.
(ends)
Korea’s future Light Armed Helicopter, to be jointly developed by Korea Aerospace Industries and Airbus Helicopters, will be derived from the latter’s H-155 Dauphin, with a chin-mounted gun turret and stub wings to carry other weapons. (Airbus HC imagery)
South Korea has impressive human talent.
Its the only east Asian society where Christianity and Western values made deep inroads.
As a modern, developed democratic country, it has much to be proud of.
Does the tail assembly fall off on this model too?
The AS355 is a 40-YEAR OLD design!!!
One would think that the South Korean would’ve chosen a more modern, and capable machine, but it seems that in the race to add “K” to the AS355 (so that you have a KAS355), they just grabbed the machine which is about to go out of production over at the Marignane plant in France.
Care to enlighten us?
Airbus: auto eject tail assembly. A300 lost tail on takeoff at JFK. Air France lost vertical stabilizer. Flight #903 A300 from PBI tail section delaminated near attachment bolts. A near miss.
If it’s not Boeing, I’m not going!!!
They are talking about helicopters, not airliners.
Really, no kidding?
Thanks for the info there Captain Obvious.
The point was its Airbus. Marginal engineering with government support. So even if they have a bad design (composite tail assembly) they just keep making them and ignore the results.
You have fun on that Airbus egg beater, I’ll pass......
For example?
Do you think they would have gotten the kind of technology transfer they have now if they (were allowed to) choose a newer design? Agusta, Sikorsky or even Airbus would have little reason to be so liberal with a new design that still has commercial potential.
For example?
Sikorsky S-76, only 38 years old (good two years newer).
Of course the Dauphin is already widely sold in its military versions, and Korea would be the launch customer of the military S-76.
The AS-350 is a far better helo than the Jet Ranger. Bell suckled at the US Govt teat for so long they got lazy. They could not even be bothered to move the fuel filler cap up the side of the fuselage 9 inches so that the fuel tank could be filled completely. That created a cottage industry for "Range Extenders", 4" aluminum pipe elbows that would raise the fuel filler cap the 9" and give you another 45 minutes range. $1000 each back in 1981, with a 5 month waiting list!
Bell was talking about a wider-fuselage replacement for the Jet Ranger way back at HAI 1982. The Bell 505 is "expected" to be certified by the end of this year.
Good info, thanks!!
http://news.usni.org/2014/06/17/sikorsky-boeing-team-submit-new-army-helicopter-design
Really? You don’t think a 30000lb beast is stretching the definition of “light helicopter”?
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