Andrzej Jeziorski/MUNICH
SOUTH KOREA'S DAEWOO is to buy 35 Polish PZL-Swidnik W-3 Sokol helicopters, and to co-operate with Swidnik in production and marketing of the type. Swidnik is also co-operating with Italy's Agusta on production of the A109 helicopter.
A memorandum of understanding was signed by Swidnik and Daewoo on 13 April, initially calling for the South Korean company to market and sell the helicopters in Asia and to assist in production.
Sources in Seoul say that the agreement could be extended to allow final assembly of the machines in South Korea, if sufficient orders are secured. The deal covers the standard W-3 model, as well as future upgrades. PZL-Swidnik says that the helicopters are to be delivered to Daewoo within five years, the first at the turn of the year.
Swidnik has also been awarded a contract by Agusta to manufacture 150 fuselages for the A109 Power between 1996 and 2002.
Three fuselages assembled from Italian components are to be handed over to Agusta this year. From 1997, the manufacture of airframe components will be transferred progressively to Swidnik, which expects to complete 15 fuselages in 1997, rising to 30 a year.
Daewoo's plans to develop and produce jointly an upgraded variant of the Mil Mi-17, in co-operation with Russia's Mil design bureau and Kazan Helicopter Production, has stalled over the issue of international rights to the helicopter.
Source: Flight International
