LIMA 2015: Airbus Helicopters selected for Korean LCH, LAH programme

Airbus Helicopters has been selected to team with Korea Aerospace Industries for the development of South Korea’s Light Civil Helicopter (LCH) and Light Armed Helicopter (LAH). The agreement was announced from Seoul on 16 March.

Korea Aerospace Industries was selected for Korea’s LAH and LCH  programmes in July 2014. It is responsible for the aircraft development plan, including selection of overseas system developers as well as local and foreign vendors.

Both the LCH and LAH will be based on Airbus Helicopters’ H155 (formerly known as the EC155) – the latest evolution of its Dauphin family aircraft.

Airbus Helicopters will build on its extensive experience working with Korea Aerospace Industries, including the joint programme that developed Korea’s Surion twin-engine utility transport helicopter.

The agreement will see Airbus Helicopters transfer technical know-how to ensure Korea is able to develop its newest indigenous light rotorcraft in the five metric ton weight category.

Guillaume Faury, president, Airbus Helicopters, said: ‘We would like to express our deep gratitude to Korea Aerospace Industries and the South Korean government for entrusting us with this major helicopter programme. We are committing our full support in ensuring the LCH and LAH projects will be completed on time, on cost and to specification.’

The LCH version is expected to enter service in 2020 while the service introduction of the LAH is targeted for 2022.

Norbert Ducrot, head of North Asia, Airbus Helicopters, added: ‘Not only do we have a strong partnership with Korea Aerospace Industries, we have also a proven track record of continued civil and military developments on which the two partners will capitalise for these two programmes.’

Airbus Helicopters’ Dauphin family rotorcraft – on which the LAH and LCH are based – have been delivered to more than 60 customers, with nearly five million flight hours logged in service. The H155 features the same digital four-axis autopilot used on the Surion, developed to deliver advanced hover performance in extreme conditions, along with highly accurate settings for altitude, speed and heading.