KAI and EADS MOU for korean utility helicopter
The Korean Helicopter Program (KHP) is to develop a military utility/transport helicopter (KUH, Korean Utility Helicopter) in the eight-metric-ton class. The KUH is to replace Bell UH- 1Hs and McDonnell Douglas 500MDs in the South Korean Army fleet. And first deployment is scheduled in 2012. In late 2005, Eurocopter was chosen as the primary partner of KAI on the program. Eurocopter provides technical assistance and will also supply the KUH’s transmission system and autopilot.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Eurocopter signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Thursday 18 October at Seoul Air Show to create a Joint Venture (JV) Company for the worldwide promotion of the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH).
The JV will be in operation by 2010. With a shareholding structure of 51% for KAI and 49 % ownership for Eurocopter, the newly-established company will be responsible for the sale and marketing of the KUH on the export market, which is estimated to reach an order of 300 helicopters.
The Republic of Korea has a plan to buy from KAI, which is prime contractor for this program, around 250 KUH.
For this program, Eurocopter role is to provide technical assistance for the development of the helicopter as well as certain sub-assemblies. About 40 Eurocopter engineers are thus housed at Sacheon (Korea) to render their ultimate technical assistance to KAI.
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