Introduction to Korean Helicopter Program

Daesung Lee

Aeronautics Program Office, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Korea

dslee@kari.re.kr

Jeoung Yeol Yu 

Localization Management Division, Korean Helicopter Program Management Office

Ministry of National Defense, Korea

Recently, the imminent need to substitute the aging utility helicopters such as UH-1 and MD500 operated by Korean military forces has initiated the ambitious plan to develop the indigenous helicopter, so called Korean Helicopter Program (KHP) jointly by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and the Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Energy (MOCIE). KHP is also expected to provide a good opportunity to foster Korean aerospace industries through localization of the helicopter and the major components, and consequently to enhance indigenous capabilities to develop helicopters.

This presentation shows the overview of the KHP which includes the objectives, program milestone, strategy and organizational structure, etc. The KHP is expected to be launched in late 2005 and the full scale development of the initial six ship sets will be completed in September, 2011. Korea Aerospace Industries, LTD. (KAI), Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and Agency of Defense Development (ADD) will lead the development of the system and the core components together with many domestic and foreign industries. The total number of around 250 utility helicopters will be produced and deployed after the year 2011. The follow-up program is also under planning to develop the civil helicopter derived from the military utility version by employing the dual-use core components such as the rotor system, and the drive system, etc.

The key to the success of the KHP is the collaboration of many participating domestic and foreign organizations. Currently preparation is well under way to select the qualified participating companies who can achieve the program objectives effectively.