Airbus Helicopters, KAI To Co-Develop Rotorcraft For S. Korea

Airbus Helicopters will co-develop two 5-ton class rotorcraft with Korea Aerospace Industries to meet South Korea’s next-generation Light Civil Helicopter (LCH) and Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) program requirements.

Both the LCH and LAH will be based on Airbus Helicopters’ H155 (formerly known as the EC155) – the latest evolution of its best-selling Dauphin family, which includes the Panther military and parapublic variants that have demonstrated their capabilities in operation around the world.

Airbus Helicopters will transfer the company’s technical know-how – as already demonstrated in the Surion program to ensure Korea is able to develop its newest indigenous products, which will become leading next-generation light rotorcraft in the 5 metric ton weight category.

“The LCH and LAH programs will build on our collaboration with Korea Aerospace Industries on the Surion, which has become a reference in successful rotorcraft collaboration. By continuing our relationship, we will significantly reduce the risks of these two new development programs, while meeting all of the mission requirements,” Airbus Helicopters President Guillaume Faury said in the company press release.

The LCH version is expected to enter service in 2020 while the service introduction of the LAH is targeted for 2022.