Swiss helicopter developer Kopter and Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) have signed an agreement that could pave the way for final assembly of the SH09 light-single in the Asian country.
Covered by a Memorandum of Understanding, the pact “launches the start of a collaboration between Kopter and KAI around local assembly, production, customisation and sales” of the SH09 in South Korea.
“This co-operation might equally lead to helicopter sales to other Asian countries from Korea,” says Kopter.
KAI praises the “great opportunity” to add the SH09 to its rotary-wing portfolio.
Kopter has long stressed the need to establish an Asian production line, adding to planned final assembly facilities in Mollis, Switzerland and Lafayette, Louisiana.
Speaking during a recent interview, Kopter chief executive Andreas Lowenstein said that “to serve the Asian market you need to be local”.
