Safran, Hanwha To Supply Engines For South Korean Light Civil, Armed Helicopters

Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) has selected Safran Helicopter Engines as engine supplier for its Light Civil Helicopter (LCH). It will be powered with the existing Arriel 2C2 engine.

On the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH), Safran has been selected by Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), KAI and Hanwha Techwin. The LAH will feature a new engine designated Arriel 2L2, Safran said in a statement Monday.

Safran Helicopter Engines and Hanwha Techwin have signed an agreement for the joint-development and the manufacturing of the Arriel 2L2 in South-Korea. This new engine is the latest member of the Arriel family. Hanwha Techwin will perform license-production of the engine: it will manufacture major parts and will perform the final assembly and tests in its plant in Changwon before delivery to KAI. Hanwha Techwin will also be responsible of the MRO of the Arriel 2L2 for the LAH.

Derived from the Arriel 2N, the Arriel 2L2 features a combination of new and proven technologies. Compared to the previous Arriel 2 generation, it has a new axial compressor, new high-pressure compressor diffuser, new high-pressure turbine material and new-generation dual-channel Fadec.