Eurocopter, The Korean Government has just announced its choice of Eurocopter as the primary partner of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in the KHP program for the development of Korea's first military transport helicopter.
In this major 6-8 billion dollar defense program, Eurocopter was competing against the Italian constructor Agusta Westland and the US manufacturer Bell. “The Korean Government's decision is proof of Eurocopter's expertise in major international cooperative ventures and the company's technological lead in the military helicopter sector,” said Eurocopter President Fabrice Bregier.
The objective of the Korean Helicopter Program is to replace the aging fleet of US transport and liaison helicopters operated by the Korean army. The 6-year KHP development phase will run from 2006 to 2011; in the following 10-year production phase, 245 helicopters are to be manufactured.
KAI is the prime contractor for the Korean Helicopter Program. As the primary partner of KAI, Eurocopter will provide technical assistance and supply the transmission and autopilot subassemblies for the helicopter. Eurocopter has a stake of 30% in the development phase and 20% in the production phase.
The KHP helicopter is in the 8 metric ton class and is capable of carrying 2 pilots and 11 troops with an endurance of well over two hours. The helicopter is equipped with the very latest technological advances.
Korea is already an important country for the Eurocopter Group, which has been very successful on its civil and parapublic markets over the last few decades. KAI is the leading Korean manufacturer and this partnership is part of the policy of worldwide deployment and strategic alliances of the Eurocopter Group and its parent company EADS.
Eurocopter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2004, EADS generated revenues of EUR 31.8 billion and employed a workforce of about 110,000. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the international leader in missile systems. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher, develops the A400M military transport aircraft and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system Galileo.
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