Thanks for the article Jonathan.
via Yonhap News.
In five years the balance of forces in the region (to include modern versus antiquated) will be interesting.
via Yonhap News.
SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- State-run Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said Thursday it has signed a 1.7 trillion won (US$1.6 billion) deal to deliver 60 Surion helicopters to the Army by 2017.It appears that the arms buildup in the Pacific will continue despite reduced buys by the Pentagon.
The contract is the second of its kind signed with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) following the first in 2010 involving 20 helicopters. The first of the choppers that will replace the decades-old fleet of UH-1H and 500MDs entered service this year.
KAI has spent 1.3 trillion won since 2006 on developing the twin-engined rotary aircraft that will compete with such rivals as the UH-60 and AW-149. It said test machines have logged more than 2,700 flying hours and passed 7,600 evaluations before being certified for operation.
The company said up to 400 Surion, or Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH), can be sold in the country in the coming years, while the export figure may reach 300 units.
Domestic demand includes choppers for the Marine Corps and the police as well other government agencies.
KAI, meanwhile, said that with the latest deal, the company secured new orders worth 6.1 trillion won in 2013. It said that including ongoing parts delivery contracts, total contracts will easily exceed the 6.2 trillion won target set by the management for this year.
In five years the balance of forces in the region (to include modern versus antiquated) will be interesting.
