Replacement of Aging Kamov Helicopters
Introduction of the Surion Model "White Eagle"
Medium-sized helicopter White Eagle assigned to Gunsan Aviation Unit of the West Sea Coast Guard. Provided by West Sea Coast Guard
The West Sea Coast Guard announced on October 22 that it has received and deployed one unit of the "White Eagle" helicopter, manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries Co., Ltd. over a period of 36 months, at the Gunsan Aviation Unit as part of a project to replace the aging Kamov helicopters.
The newly introduced helicopter is the "Surion" model, developed with domestic technology. Equipped with state-of-the-art equipment such as a search radar, optical thermal imaging camera, rescue hoist, and searchlight, it is a medium-sized search and rescue helicopter capable of performing maritime missions both day and night.
The Coast Guard is continuously pursuing replacement projects to secure on-site response capabilities due to the decreased equipment operation rate and night flight restrictions caused by the aging Kamov helicopters. The newly introduced aircraft is scheduled to complete crew training by December this year and will be deployed to the field starting January next year.
Meanwhile, when the "Surion" was first introduced by the Coast Guard in 2019, its unique nickname "White Eagle" was selected through an internal staff contest. The model is currently operated at the Jeju, Yangyang, and Busan aviation units.
A representative from the West Sea Coast Guard stated, "The domestically produced White Eagle helicopter introduced this time reflects Korea's outstanding aerospace technology and is equipped with the most advanced mission equipment. We expect it will significantly enhance on-site response capabilities as well as greatly improve equipment operation rates thanks to robust domestic maintenance technology."
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