Article Posted on : - Jun 22, 2010

South Korean utility helicopter - Surion

SACHEON, SOUTH KOREA (BNS): South Korea Tuesday tested the third prototype of its new military transport helicopter ‘Surion’ a Yonhap report said.

During the 20-minute flight, the third prototype flew at an altitude of 2,000 feet with a cruising speed of 140 knots (260 kilometers) per hour, the report said.

The first prototype of the helicopter was unveiled in July last year and completed its first flight in March this year with a stationary hover at an altitude of 30 feet, or about 9.1 meters.

"It is a historic day today as the Surion completed its initial flight tests," Defense Minister Kim Tae-young was quoted as saying.

"The successful development of the Surion laid groundwork for the nation's aviation industry to stand on its own feet and the military to increase its combat capabilities," Kim said in his congratulatory message.

South Korea began the 1.3 trillion won (US$1.1 billion) project in 2006 to replace the country’s aging UH-1H and 500MD helicopters.

Korea Aerospace Industries Co. is building the Surion in partnership with Eurocopter.

The helicopter has a top speed of 240 kilometers per hour and can carry two pilots and 11 troops. It can hover at 9,258 feet with a climbing speed of 500 feet per minute and stay in the air well over two hours, according to KAL.