Parliamentary opposition criticizes DAPA plans for serial production of Surion helicopters
Despite a number of project drawbacks, Coria Aerospace Industries (KAI) is planning to sign a contract for the mass production of Surion multi-purpose helicopters in the coming months.
The agreement, whose value is estimated at 6 trillion won (5,292 billion dollars), will be the largest arms supply contract concluded with a national company.
According to the deputy of the House of Representatives from the opposition United Democratic Party, Shin Hak-yong (Shin Hak-yong), the Defense Procurement Programs Agency of the Republic of Korea (DAPA) plans to sign a contract in December of this year.
According to the opposition, DAPA should not decide to start such a large-scale mass production program in a hurry, and the conclusion of the contract should be postponed until all the necessary tests have been completed.
According to opposition parliamentarians, the current administration seeks to conclude contracts worth more than 15 billion by the end of the year without a proper evaluation of projects.
In particular, besides the “unfinished” program “Surion”, it is also planned to sign contracts for the purchase of 60 new fighters (7,9 billion dollars), 36 attack helicopters (1,6 billion dollars) and 8 sea helicopters (487 million dollars).
Particular criticism of parliamentarians was the program "Surion".
According to Corea Times, the Agency DAPA approved the mass production of Surion 28 helicopters in June, without completing a number of tests, in particular, the engine.
According to DAPA representatives, General Motors (the supplier of the engine for Surion) will complete an assessment of the technical problems encountered by September and DAPA plans to make appropriate changes to the design of the propulsion system by March 2013.
In December, 2010, the Agency DAPA signed with KAI a contract worth 658,1 billion won (587 million dollars), providing for the start of small-scale production of the Surion helicopter developed jointly with Eurocopter. The initial contract at the stage of small-scale production involves the supply of up to 24 machines at the end of 2013.
Serial production of helicopters is scheduled to begin at the end of 2012, after signing the relevant contract. At the stage of mass production it is planned to produce 220 helicopters.
According to the authorized DAPA Noh Dae-lae (Noh Dae-lae), in June, permission was given to start production of the Surion helicopters for military use, since it would take several years to eliminate all existing shortcomings and ensure that the vehicle complies with international airworthiness standards. Until complete testing, the helicopter will be operated with some restrictions.
So, during 2013-2014. DAPA will evaluate the capabilities of the helicopter at low temperatures during flight tests in Alaska.
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