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| KAI KUH-1 Surion |
South Korea's Marine Corps will deploy 30 amphibious helicopters in a move to bolster its maritime defense capabilities, military officials said Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the country's sole aircraft manufacturer, has signed a US$525 million deal with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration to gradually deliver the 30 amphibious choppers to the Marine Corps by 2023, the aircraft company said in a statement.
The amphibious helicopter will be built based on the KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter which was locally developed by the government and private experts for six years from 2006 in a US$1 bn project.
The Surion-based amphibious helicopter is best suited for naval operations as the main rotor is foldable and the body is coated with anti-corrosive agents, the statement said.
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