Domestic Helicopter Surion to Dominate South Korean Skies by 2030

Discussion on Integrated Acquisition, Joint Operation, and Development Strategies for the Surion by DAPA, Korea Aerospace Administration, and Other Ministries

The integrated acquisition plan, efficient operation methods, and competitiveness enhancement strategies for Korea's first domestically produced helicopter, the Surion, were discussed.

On the 19th, seven government ministries including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea Aerospace Administration, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the National Police Agency, the National Fire Agency, the Korea Forest Service, and the Korea Coast Guard held a director-level intergovernmental joint consultative body kickoff meeting at the Seoul Defense Convention to discuss the future development plans for the Surion.

Surion in operation. Photo by Asia Economy DB

The joint consultative body brings together ministries involved in the development of the Surion and those currently operating it to discuss integrated acquisition plans and efficient operation methods for the Surion.

Developed in 2012, the Surion established South Korea as the 11th country in the world to develop a helicopter. It has evolved into a versatile multi-purpose mobility helicopter, serving not only military troop and cargo transport but also as the amphibious assault helicopter Marinon and the medical evacuation helicopter Medion.

The National Police Agency, National Fire Agency, Korea Forest Service, and Korea Coast Guard also utilize the Surion as a utility helicopter performing various missions such as law enforcement activities, wildfire suppression, and life rescue. By around 2030, it is expected that over 300 Surion helicopters will be operated domestically. The Surion was also exported to Iraq for the first time in December last year.

The joint consultative body discussed efficient operation methods for Surion helicopters deployed in the military and various government ministries, as well as the need to integrate the currently fragmented helicopter purchases by each ministry. The National Police Agency, National Fire Agency, Korea Forest Service, and Korea Coast Guard, which directly operate Surion helicopters, believe that through active cooperation with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and the military, which have acquired and operate over 200 Surion helicopters, economical procurement and maintenance of helicopters will be possible.

They also agreed to strive for continuous performance upgrades and institutional support to maintain competitiveness in the aerospace industry and export markets through the long-term efficient operation of the Surion.

The joint consultative body plans to select policy and institutional tasks for the integrated purchase and joint operation of the Surion helicopter and to cooperate on common future demands such as unmanned aerial vehicles.

Han Chang-heon, Director of the Aerospace Industry Bureau at the Korea Aerospace Administration, stated, "The formation of this consultative body is a great opportunity to strengthen the domestic base by utilizing the Surion helicopter as various utility derivative helicopters for police, fire, and forest services," adding, "Furthermore, we hope this will lead to export expansion through civil-military cooperation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.