{"id":66332,"date":"2023-09-01T15:12:20","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T15:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2023\/09\/01\/airbus-kai-to-start-light-armed-helicopter-production-for-korean-army\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:55:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:55:38","slug":"airbus-kai-to-start-light-armed-helicopter-production-for-korean-army","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2023\/09\/01\/airbus-kai-to-start-light-armed-helicopter-production-for-korean-army\/","title":{"rendered":"Airbus, KAI to start Light Armed Helicopter production for Korean Army"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PARIS \u2014 Airbus Helicopters and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) agreed to start serial production of their jointly developed Light Armed Helicopter, Airbus said in a statement on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deliveries to the Republic of Korea Army of an initial 10 helicopters will begin in December 2024, with follow-on orders to continue into the next decade, Airbus spokeswoman Belinda Ng said in an emailed response to questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Korea awarded a contract to KAI for the first batch of attack helicopters in December, with the deal valued at 302 billion won, or $229 million, according to the Korea Herald<\/a>. Airbus declined to confirm the amount, with Ng saying there had been no official disclosure of the contract value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Light Armed Helicopter, based on the Airbus H155 platform, will replace the Korean armed forces\u2019 aging AH-1S Cobra and MD 500 helicopters. KAI will produce the aircraft at its facility in Sacheon, South Korea, with Airbus Helicopters delivering the kits required for mass production. The agreement foresees a next phase of production ramp up, Airbus said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t