Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is seeking to develop civilian and military helicopters by 2020 and 2022, respectively, in cooperation with Airbus Helicopter (AH), the nation's sole aircraft maker said Thursday.
"KAI signed a contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to develop Light Armed Helicopter (LAH), and with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy to develop Light Civil Helicopter (LCH)," the company said in a press release.
The project, where a total of 1.6 trillion won ($1.4 billion) will be invested, aims to develop the LAH based on the LCH to replace the aging 500MD and AH-1S military choppers.
The firm said the simultaneous development of the military and civilian helicopters will have a number of merits, such as high efficiency in the development process and an easy technology transfer between military and civilian sectors.
"The project is also expected to have an economic effect worth 23 trillion won as well as helping to create jobs for 110,000 people," the company said.
Since being chosen as the preferred bidder in July last year, KAI has conducted marathon negotiations with the DAPA and other relevant agencies to iron out various issues such as cost.
Under the agreed deal, the DAPA and the industry ministry will shoulder 650 billion won and 350 billion won, respectively, while KAI will front 200 billion won and AH 400 billion won.
KAI signed an agreement with AH in March to receive technical assistance from the European company. KAI will develop the LCH and LAH based on AH's H155 (EC155) platform in an effort to secure stability and performance at an early stage of development.
After the LAH and LCH development is completed, the two firms will carry out marketing activities together, while KAI will exclusively produce the choppers, in accordance with the contract. Airbus Helicopter promised to stop producing the similar class H155 after the project is completed.
"Our goal is to sell over 400 LAHs and LCHs in the domestic market and export over 600," KAI said.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
Korean Language
산업부-방사청, 소형민수·무장 헬기 개발 착수
산업통상자원부와 방위사업청이 25일 소형민수헬기(LCH)와 소형무장헬기(LAH)를 개발하기 위한 계약을 한국항공우주산업(KAI)과 체결했다고 밝혔다.
산업부 주도로 민군 겸용 구성품과 소형민수헬기를 2020년까지 개발하면 방위사업청이 이를 활용·개조해 소형무장헬기를 2022년까지 개발하기로 했다.
4.5t급의 소형민수헬기 개발에는 산업부(3천500억원), 한국항공우주산업(2천억원), 유럽 에어버스헬리콥터스(4천억원)가 공동으로 참여해 총 9천500억원을 투자할 계획이다.
방위사업청이 주관하는 소형무장헬기 개발에는 6천500억원이 투입된다.
이번 사업은 민수·무장 헬기를 독자적으로 개발·생산함으로써 핵심기술 확보와 함께 부품과 관련한 수출산업 기반을 마련하고 노후한 군용 헬기를 신형 헬기로 교체함으로써 군 전력을 증강하기 위해 추진한다.
한국항공우주산업은 헬기 개발 후 국내외에서 총 1천여대를 판매하는 것이 목표다. 이를 통해 23조원의 경제 파급효과와 연 인원 11만명의 일자리 창출이 가능할 것으로 기대하고 있다. (연합뉴스)