South Korea Completes Deployment of Locally-Built Surion Utility Helicopter to Army

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on Monday the operational deployment of the domestically manufactured KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter to the Army.

This deployment comes more than a decade after the delivery of the first unit.

The KUH-1 Surion, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), was first handed over to the country’s armed forces in late 2012 following a seven-year development period that commenced in 2006. The Surion was designed to replace the Army’s aging fleet of U.S.-made UH-1H and 500MD helicopters.

As of now, the South Korean Army operates over 200 Surion helicopters. These aircraft are employed in a variety of missions, including air assault operations and cargo airlift tasks.

The Surion boasts a maximum airspeed of 146 knots and can accommodate up to 13 personnel, including two pilots.

DAPA also noted ongoing efforts to enhance the Surion’s capabilities further. Among these initiatives is the local development of the helicopter’s power transmission system, which aims to improve reliability and performance.