Eurocopter stands ready to provide the appropriate platforms for future defense needs of the Republic of Korea

Seoul, 19 October 2011
In a strong signal of its capacity and capability to provide for South Korea's defense needs, Eurocopter indicates its interest in participating in the two Request for Proposals (RFPs) likely to be issued in 2012, proposing the Panther platform for the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH) program and the Tiger for the Heavy Attack Helicopter (AH-X) program.

"These programs represent a key part of our long-term strategy in South Korea," said Eurocopter President & CEO Lutz Bertling. "For the LAH program, we will once again support Korea Aerospace Industries in the competition, ensuring the continued development of the country's aerospace industry and defense capability.

"As for the AH-X program, the Tiger's modern state-of-the-art technology is undisputed, and it has certainly proven its operational capability and reliability in Afghanistan and Lybya, making it the best helicopter to meet the RoK's requirements," added Bertling.

Panther platform for Light Attack Helicopter program
In supporting KAI in the light attack helicopters (LAH) program, Eurocopter is proposing the Panther, the military variant of Eurocopter's renowned Dauphin, as the ideal baseline platform for LAH development. The LAH program calls for a light aircraft in the 4.5 metric ton class with a seating capacity of 6-8.

With a background of over 1,000 Dauphin/Panther produced and the vast experience this type has of effective operations in the most demanding conditions, it offers a de-risked platform which, in its latest evolution, has the most modern avionics, engines and systems to give outstanding battle-winning performance. It is a high speed, maneuverable, discreet and powerful asset.

Developed to RoK military requirements by KAI, the Panther will give world-beating performance in a proven airframe with worldwide support.

Tiger for the AH-X
In the expected request for proposals (RFP) for 36 heavy attack helicopters (AH-X), Eurocopter is preparing to present its state-of-the-art support and attack helicopter – Tiger.

Tiger is the ideal aircraft for the RoK's heavy attack helicopter requirement. It is a true multi-role combat helicopter and an essential asset in any operational theatre. With a record of outstanding operations in Close Combat Attack missions and as escort for Utility and Assault Helicopters, Tiger is a modern, combat proven system offering unmatched performance, effectiveness, availability and support. Tiger has now set the standards against which all other heavy attack helicopters are measured.

With a total of 75 helicopters delivered so far (as at 31 August 2011), the Tiger fleet has clocked around 30,000 flight hours.

Three Tigers have been continuously deployed by the French Army in Afghanistan since July 2009, and users' feedback has been excellent, both regarding performance and maintainability. The Tiger showed a very high level of availability (more than 90%) and has logged approximately 2,100 flight hours, out of which 25% were performed at night.

WORKSHOP SEEKS MORE BRAZILIAN COMPANIES FOR KC-390 PROGRAM

Event highlights opportunities for Brazilian aerospace supply chain


PR
​São José dos Campos – SP, Brazil, October 20, 2011 – Around 80 Brazilian companies from the Brazilian aerospace cluster participated in the KC-390 Workshop, held yesterday by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). Embraer Defense and Security presented short and medium-range opportunities to potential suppliers of the military transport and refueling jet being developed for the Brazilian Air Force.

The workshop’s main objective was to stimulate more Brazilian companies to participate in the bidding process as suppliers of parts, components, systems and services for the KC-390. The Nationalization Index of the aircraft, as calculated according to the criteria of the Brazilian Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES), is estimated to be 60%, or as much as 80%, if the engines, which represent about one-third of the total cost of the aircraft and for which there is no Brazilian manufacturer, are not taken into consideration.

“The mobilization and strengthening of the entire national production chain, aligned with the government’s priorities reflected in the National Defense Strategy and in the new Bigger Brazil Plan (Plano Brasil Maior), have been the focus of the Brazilian Air Force and Embraer since the beginning of this program,” said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, President of Embraer Defense and Security. “With the support of a number of public and private agencies, there are several joint efforts to stimulate and facilitate the participation of Brazilian companies as suppliers of the KC-390.”

The event was held in the Technological Center of São José dos Campos, and was attended by the Brazilian Industrial Development Agency (ABDI), BNDES, the Brazilian Innovation Agency FINEP, the Industrial Foment and Coordination Institute (IFI). The Association of Aerospace Industries of Brazil (AIAB) and the Center for Competitiveness and Innovation of Eastern São Paulo (CECOMPI) also participated. The meeting also sought to urge companies to pursue partnerships with suppliers from other countries that have already begun working with Embraer Defense and Security in the program.

The KC-390 is the largest airplane ever built by the Brazilian aeronautics industry, and it will set a new standard for medium-sized military transport aircraft, in terms of performance, payload, and advanced mission and flight systems, such as fly-by-wire. The development program is an important opportunity for improving the technological readiness level of the Nation’s companies that plan to become Embraer suppliers, or subcontractors of foreign suppliers that have already been selected.