The South Korean army is to formalise its requirement for a new attack helicopter (AHX), with the anticipated release in December of an official request for proposals (RFP) to a preselected list of contenders.
South Korea has an initial requirement for 18 AHXs and ultimately up to 36 machines, sufficient to equip two army battalions. Ministry of National Defence (MND) planning calls for the RFP to be followed by a request for tenders by April 1999 and a final selection and award of contract by the end of next year.
Seven competing manufacturers submitted tentative proposals in late August in response to the MND's open preliminary RFP. The army has used the information supplied to draw up a more detailed list of operational and system requirements, which have been incorporated into a full RFP to be issued to a shortlist of competitors.
The initial contenders consist of the four-bladed Agusta A129 Mangusta, Bell AH-1W Super Cobra, Boeing AH-64D Longbow Apache, Denel CSH-2 Rooivalk, Eurocopter Tiger HCAP, Kamov Ka-50 Werewolf and Sikorsky AUH-60 Armed Black Hawk. The RFP is expected to specify the level and type of local industrial co-operation involved.
Sikorsky has announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to team with Korean Air's (KAL) Aerospace division to offer the AUH-60. Other partnership deals are expected to follow, based on previous programmes. Denel is believed to be in discussion with Hyundai Space & Aircraft and Agusta and Eurocopter with Daewoo Heavy Industries.
Eurocopter will offer will the multirole combat version of the Tiger, combining an anti-tank capability with the close support version's 30mm turret- mounted cannon. Initially, the helicopter would be offered with either Euromissile HOT or Boeing Hellfire missiles, with the third-generation Trigat becoming available later, provided that the missile survives Germany's forthcoming defence review.
KAL will deliver the last of 138 licence-built UH-60Ps at the end of 1999, and is hoping for a follow-on order for another 70 transport machines. As well as the AUH-60, its MoU with Sikorsky includes the provision to market locally the naval SH-60 Seahawk, UH-60L Firehawk and UH-60Q medical evacuation variant. The South Korean army is considering a purchase of between six and 12 of the latter derivative.
Source: Flight International
