Iraq orders Korean Surion helicopters

25 December, 2024 The KUH 1 Surion multi-purpose helicopter. Photo credits: Korea Aerospace Industries The South Korean company Korea Aerospace Industries has received an order to supply KUH-1 Surion multi-purpose helicopters for Iraq.

Yonhap News reported on this. The contract, worth £93.7 million, was signed to export newly built helicopters to the country's government. Under the contract, two helicopters and the corresponding logistics package will be delivered between 2025 and March 2029.

The KUH 1 Surion multi-purpose helicopter.

Photo credits: Korea Aerospace Industries

Other details of the contract were not disclosed, but it should be noted that Iraq became the first customer of this type of helicopter, which has been in service with the South Korean Armed Forces since 2012 and is being actively promoted for export. In addition to Iraq, the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam is considering the purchase of helicopters, as in mid-2023, Korea Aerospace Industries signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Vietnam's Viettel Aerospace Institute (VTX). Under the memorandum, the Vietnamese company may be involved in developing new versions and producing this type of helicopter, in addition to potentially using the Surion as a new army helicopter.

An attempt to sell the helicopter to the Philippines in 2019 was unsuccessful, as the country chose a proven option in the form of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

The KUH 1 Surion multi-purpose helicopter. Photo credits: Korea Aerospace Industries

In addition to helicopters, the South Korean company KAI is trying to expand aircraft exports, including T-50 and FA-50 jet trainers and light combat aircraft, which are being actively promoted to international markets and have already been ordered by Iraq. Poland is an active customer of these aircraft, and in addition to purchasing them, it plans to become a service center for these aircraft in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Militarnyi previously reported that the South Korean company Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) plans to double its FA-50 Fighting Eagle aircraft production capacity by the end of 2024. The Korea Aerospace Industries is confident in the future of the FA-50 platform. Just recently, KAI released a roadmap presenting its plan to continue developing the FA-50 platform into the future.

In addition to European, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets, KAI is spotting the United States as its next customer.