SEOUL - Israel's Elbit Systems has been selected as one of the top four "elite suppliers" for the Korea Utility Helicopter (KUH) program led by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), South Korea's only aircraft maker, according to a Nov. 2 news release.
KAI rolled out the KUH, called Surion, in July after nearly 40 months of research and development with technical assistance from Eurocopter.
According to the release by Elbit Systems, the four top companies were selected over some 80 companies involved in KAI's main programs and announced during KAI's suppliers' symposium.
The Israeli firm supplies KAI with three different types of airborne systems for the KUH: advanced Helmet Mounted Display systems (HMDs), Vehicle Information Systems and a Data Transfer Systems, the release said.
The HMDs enables the helicopter pilot to fly "head out of the cockpit," having all the flight data projected onto the helmet. This function is critical as it allows the pilot to perform missions successfully with high situational awareness and safety.
Elbit is also a subcontractor to KAI for systems engineering and integration of the entire KUH avionics system.
"We are greatly honored to have been selected by KAI as one of its top suppliers in this prestigious program. We take great pride in our ability to offer KAI and the Korean Army our high quality systems and project management processors," said Yoram Shmuely, co-general manager of Elbit Systems' Aerospace Division.
The production of 245 Surions is scheduled to start as early as late 2011 after flight and ground tests.
On the basis of the KUH platform and related technologies, KAI plans to develop both civil and military variants for attack, landing/maritime operations, evacuation or firefighting.
KAI forecast that the KUH could replace about 300 of the 1,000 civil and military helicopters expected to be purchased globally over the next 25 years.
The 8.7-metric-ton aircraft is able to hover at 9,258 feet with a climbing speed of 500 feet per minute. The helicopter has a top speed of 240 kilometers per hour and can carry two pilots and 11 troops. It can stay in the air for well over two hours.
The Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program is ready to test a few components that soldiers may have in their hands by 2010.
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