KAI Surion

KAI Surion

KAI Surion medium transport helicopters are a joint project, with 70 percent of the development undertaken by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and 30 percent by Eurocopter. Hanwha Techwin, formerly Samsung Techwin, is building the engines for the helicopters under a license from General Electric Aerospace.  The helicopter has officially been designated KAI KUH-1 Surion.  KUH stands for Korean Utility Helicopter.  Surion is a combination of the Korean word suri, for eagle and on for perfection.

In its current configuration, as used by the Korean Army, the helicopter carries a crew of four and can transport up to nine fully armed assault troops.

The Korean Army anticipates replacing all of their light to medium helicopters with the KAI Surion for use as an assault helicopter, MEDEVAC, search and rescue, and general utility helicopters.

As a battlefield helicopter the KAI Surion can be fitted with up to six TOW anti-tank missiles. It can also carry air-to-air missiles.

The Surion's defensive sensor suite includes missile UV and radar warning systems, and is capable of employing electronic counter measures (ECM) and infrared counter measures.

The all-glass cockpit of the KAI Surion incorporates FLIR (forward looking infrared), GPS, digital engine controls, modular weapons systems, and automated monitoring for engine and helicopter control systems.

KAI Surion helicopters began being deployed with the Korean Army in 2012.  In August of 2015 KAI Surion helicopters were employed for the medical evacuation of personnel injured after the North Korean bombardment by artillery of South Korean territory near the DMZ.

It is anticipated that eventually the Korean Army will deploy 245 of the helicopters by 2022.

The Korean Forest Service employs a KAI Surion helicopter equipped with a rescue hoist and a 528 gallon water tank.

KAI anticipates that they may have up to 120 international orders for their KAI Surion helicopters.  They may be used for military,  police and civil aviation.  To date, some 70 KAI Surion helicopters have been produced.