Page 10 - ADT SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 Online Magazine

Indigenous Prowess AH-1J/S Cobra in service with the Republic of [ COVER STORY ]
Korean Air and LIGNex1 are developing the high performance Korea Army (ROKA). The first operational LAH
KUS-FS Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned is set to be delivered to units toward the end
Aerial System (UAS), which is envisioned to perform communica- of 2022 and more than 200 units are planned
tion relay duties, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance for procurement.
(ISR) missions, Electronic Warfare (EW) and Signals Intelligence
((SIGINT). The MALE UAS will carry an X Band Synthetic Aperture Deliveries of military variants continue and the
Radar (SAR) allowing collection of high-resolution SAR/GMTI ROKA took delivery in 2020 of all eight KUH-1M
images during day and night regardless of weather conditions. (Medevac) helicopters ordered by DAPA in
Airframe design and development of the 3m tall KUS-FS, which December 2018. The KUH-1M is equipped
is 13m long with a 25m wingspan is the responsibility of Korean with an automated external defibrillator, patient
Air, while LIGNex1 will supply the Ground Control System (GCS), monitoring systems, intravenous injectors,
datalinks and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). A typical user con- and a respirator, allowing it to transport two
figuration for the MALE UAS would consist of 2-4 flying systems seriously injured patients or six patients with
with Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) and SAR payloads operating minor injuries. The helicopter is also capable
with the help of a GCS. of long-distance flights due to its auxiliary fuel
tanks and also has a weather radar and the
KAI is also well advanced on its new Light Armed Helicopter (LAH), airborne collision avoidance system, allowing
which made its maiden flight in 2019. The LAH is based on the it to undertake missions even in poor weather.
Airbus Helicopters H155 and will replace the MD500 and Bell
The ROK is also hopeful for international orders
for the KUH 1E (Export) variant which was
unveiled in 2019. While deliveries of Surion to
the Korean armed forces and parapublic opera-
tors, have crossed more than 100 units, export
orders have been much harder to come by
and KAI remains in search of an export launch
customer. KUH 1E will be available in several
variants and a weaponised variant with rock-
ets, missiles and an optional gun pod is also
on offer. This new Surion export also features
upgraded avionics and sensors and has a maxi-
mum take-off weight (MTOW) of 8.8 tonne. The
KUH Surion is available in a number of variants
such as, the basic utility helicopter, police ver-
sion, amphibious version and medevac version.

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