Eurocopter and partner Daewoo are pushing for a follow-on contract to the order for 12 BO105CBS-5 helicopters to meet the South Korean army's scout helicopter requirement.
The Korean Light Helicopter (KLH) programme started in 1990 with a requirement for 100 aircraft, but has been whittled down over the years by budgetary constraints.
The European manufacturer's South Korean production partner, Daewoo Heavy Industries (DHI), believes that the investment establishing licence manufacture in South Korea will make sense only if the government places a follow-on order.
"It's not a huge contract, and we hope that these numbers will be complemented by additional orders, "says Eurocopter. The licensing agreement with Daewoo covers aircraft for South Korea and gives "some export rights in other Asian nations", including China, although no export orders have yet been secured.
The first KLH is being assembled at Eurocopter's Donauwörth plant in Germany, and is expected to be flying by the third quarter of next year. Subsequent airframes will be produced at DHI's Changwon site, where the assembly of the first two kits is due to begin at the end of 1999.
Samsung Aerospace's engine division at Changwon has an agreement with engine manufacturer Allison to carry out support work on the helicopters' 313kW (420shp) Allison 250-C20B turboshaft powerplants, according to Eurocopter.
The KLH is to be used by the Korean army to escort and scout for its Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters. The aircraft is to be lightly armed and fitted with Boeing infrared/optical sights and a defensive aids package.
Eurocopter is also promoting a heavier version of the helicopter with anti-tank capability as a candidate for the emerging Korean multipurpose helicopter (KMH) requirement.
Source: Flight International
