South Korea Completes Deployment of Its First Homegrown Utility Helicopter, the Surion

The Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH-1) Surion, the first domestically developed helicopter, completed its deployment in the army on the 24th.

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the Surion project was initiated to replace the aging UH-1H and 500MD helicopters currently operating within the army while promoting the growth of the domestic helicopter industry.

Between 2006 and 2012, South Korea completed the development of the Surion system, thereby becoming the 11th country in the world to develop a helicopter.

In December 2012, the initial Surion was delivered to the army, marking the commencement of four rounds of mass production, resulting in the deployment of over 200 units over approximately 12 years. Today, the army is holding a ceremony to mark the completion of Surion’s deployment.

Surion is integral to the army’s Amitaiger combat system, leveraging advanced science and technology to carry out missions such as air assault operations, cargo airdrops, and command and control tasks.

Enhanced survivability is a crucial feature of the Surion helicopter, achieved through mission equipment installation,

precise navigation capabilities in all weather conditions, and enhanced pilot safety via an automatic flight control system.

Surion is equipped with the latest 3D electronic maps, integrated helmet display systems, and 4-axis automatic flight control devices, enabling tactical maneuvers even in poor weather conditions day and night.

Moreover, critical components, such as the rotor system, cockpit, engine, and fuel tank, have been fortified against damage to enhance flight safety. All systems incorporate a redundant structure so that a recovery system operates in case of a fault, ensuring overall safety.

Domestication of the Surion power transmission device is currently underway, and future plans include performance improvements for pilots’ and crew members’ survival equipment.

Cho Hyun Ki, the Deputy Minister of the Current Capability Program, DAPA, said, “We plan to continuously improve the performance of the Surion helicopter in line with the trend of advanced technology development,” and added, “We will do our best to ensure that Surion can also fly strongly overseas.”