KAI sign LAH/LCH helicopter development contracts

Airbus Helicopter H155 Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI) has signed, on 25th June, contracts for the development of Light Armed He...

Airbus Helicopter H155

Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI) has signed, on 25th June, contracts for the development of Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) as well as Light Civil Helicopter (LCH) with the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), the agency representing the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) simultaneously.

The LCH and LAH will be based on Airbus Helicopter H155 helicopter platform, an improved version of the Dauphin family, to reduce development time and risk.

The LAH is intended to replace Korean Army fleet of 500 aging MD and AH-1S helicopters. The LCH will enter into global civil market and also help develop key helicopter technologies.

The LCH certification is planned in 2020, while LAH will follow within 2 more years.

The 4.5-5 ton LCH helicopter will feature improved cockpit, main rotors and gearbox to stay relevant in future. The LAH will be based on the LCH, with air-to-surface guided missiles, rockets, gun turret and self defense systems integrated.

Airbus is slated to end the production of H155, H365 helicopter series, making KAI, the sole manufacturer of the type in future.The program will be the second helicopter development of KAI with Airbus, following development of the Korean Utility Helicopter Surion.