[Military Story] 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Air Operations Command... 4th Largest Air Power in the World

Leading Korean Utility Helicopter Surion with Over 500 Units Owned
Iraq and Others Eye Surion... First Helicopter Export Imminent

During the Korean War, our military did not have a single helicopter. Since then, each division established its own aviation unit. In 2009, the Army Aviation Operations Command (AAOC) was established, completing the integrated command of all Army aviation units. It is a functional command directly under the Republic of Korea Army Headquarters, based at Icheon Airfield in Daepo-dong, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do. It is also known as the Phoenix Unit. The AAOC will celebrate its 25th anniversary on the 20th of this month.

Small armed helicopter LAH and Surion helicopter parked at Al Maktoum Airport in the UAE.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Soldiers of the 50th Division are performing helicopter rappelling from a Surion helicopter. (Photo by the Army 50th Division)

The AAOC’s aviation strength ranks fourth in the world. According to the 2021 Military Balance by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in the UK, which evaluated the military power of 171 countries worldwide, our military possesses around 500 helicopters including transport helicopters such as the CH-47 Chinook, UH-60, and KUH-1, as well as reconnaissance and attack helicopters like the AH-64 Apache, AH-1S/F Cobra, 500MD, and Bo-105. The top rank is held by the US Army, which operates nearly 3,900 helicopters. Following are the Chinese Army with about 1,000 helicopters and the Russian Air Force with approximately 800 helicopters.

The main helicopter model currently operated by the AAOC is the Surion (KUH-1), Korea’s first indigenous utility helicopter. The Surion has been in service for well over 10 years. With the development of the Surion, Korea became the 11th country in the world to produce helicopters independently. Based on the Surion, the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) has also been developed, and it is expected to replace the aging 500MD and Bo-105 models. In addition to military use such as amphibious assault helicopters, the Surion is also operated as a utility helicopter for police, firefighting, forestry, and coast guard, building a stable track record. About 200 Surions in nine different models are operated in Korea, performing missions such as reconnaissance, rescue, and search.

The first export is also imminent. Iraq, known as a major player in the ‘K-Defense’ industry, is the most likely candidate. Tabit Mohammed Sayeed Al-Abbasi, Iraq’s Minister of Defense, visited Korea and met with Defense Minister Shin Won-sik to discuss exports. Earlier, high-ranking Iraqi military officials, led by Lieutenant General Samir Zaki Hussein Al-Maliki, Commander of the Iraqi Army Aviation Command, visited the KAI headquarters in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, and boarded the Surion. They also observed and personally boarded the ‘White Eagle,’ a modified Surion adapted for coast guard missions. Iraq has strong trust in ‘K-Defense,’ having introduced 24 units of the domestically produced light combat aircraft FA-50 (export model T-50IQ) in 2013.

Vietnam is also considered a candidate country. Vietnam, which operates many Russian helicopters, faces difficulties in parts supply due to US economic sanctions against Russia and has a demand for replacing aging equipment. KAI accompanied President Yoon Suk-yeol on his state visit to Vietnam and signed a mutual cooperation agreement with the local aerospace company VTX to develop the rotary-wing aircraft sector. The defense industry interprets the agreement between KAI and VTX as a preliminary step toward exporting the Surion. Although an export contract has not been finalized yet, cooperation in developing and producing rotary-wing aircraft opens new business opportunities.

Countries such as Poland and Malaysia, which have imported the FA-50, are also potential customers for the Surion. In these countries, the Surion and KAI’s second helicopter, the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH), which is about to enter mass production, are attracting attention. Recently, KAI signed a proactive integrated order contract with Airbus Helicopters for the production of 300 units of Surion and Light Armed Helicopters. This volume includes expected export quantities and covers production over the next 10 years. Additionally, KAI plans to complete the construction of a rotary-wing flight center by September this year. This center will be used for rotary-wing testing, future aircraft test flights including unmanned aerial vehicles, and pilot training facilities, enhancing KAI’s competitiveness in the rotary-wing business.