Korea Aerospace Industries has awarded Cobham a contract to provide antennas and avionics for the Korean Utility Helicopter.

Cobham Antenna Systems, a unit of the UK firm's defence systems division, will supply a suite of communications and navigation antennas made in the UK, as well as a navigation transceiver made in the USA by Cobham Avionics and Surveillance.

Cobham calls the deal "a multi-million-pound, long-term agreement" but gives no specific numbers.

"KAI's selection of Cobham follows a successful multi-year trials programme," says Cobham. "It further enhances a long-standing relationship that has already seen the company's equipment selected for KAI's KT-1 turboprop trainer and T-50 supersonic advanced jet trainer."

The utility helicopter, also known as the Surion, is a co-development between Eurocopter and KAI. The South Korean company plans to produce 245 over the next 10 years, as replacements for Bell UH-1H and Hughes MD 500 helicopters.

Source: Flight International