KHP Program - Last December’s official announcement of Eurocopter’s selection by the Korean government for the Korean Helicopter Program (KHP) is soon to be followed by the signing of a partnership contract between Eurocopter and KAI (Korea Aerospace Industry).

KAI will be the main contractor for the KHP program, while Eurocopter will act as subcontractor. During the next few months, about 40 Korean engineers and technicians will be welcomed to Marignane, while approximately 30 Eurocopter engineers will work on site in Korea. The multi-skilled, bi-national teams based in France and Korea will work together to ease the exchange process.

This first step will last a year and will define the preproject. The program will then continue exclusively in Korea where a joint Eurocopter/KAI team will define and develop the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH). This second step should last five years and culminate in the qualification of the aircraft by the Korean army. Throughout this program, Eurocopter will provide technical assistance to KAI, transfer the necessary know-how for developing this aircraft from the AS532 Cougar, and supply the transmission systems and autopilot. At the start of 2009, Eurocopter will fly a demonstrator to evaluate the most innovative components in comparison with the Super Puma technology, notably the engine installation (the T700 from General Electric), the rotor, and the flight controls. For 12 months, this demonstrator will fly in Marignane to fine-tune the technological innovations.

The demonstrator will then be converted into the Ground Test Vehicle when the first prototype performs its maiden flight, scheduled for early 2010 in Korea, where a total of four prototypes will be manufactured.