KAI KUH Surion

Korea Aerospace Industries is facing intensified scrutiny as South Korea's new president pursues a crackdown of military-industry corruption and the government watchdog questions the performance of its showcase Surion helicopter, according to news reports from the Asian nation.

President Moon Jae-in won the election in early May after his predecessor, Park Geun-hye, was impeached, removed from office and later arrested in March in the wake of a corruption scandal. Moon campaigned, among other things, on eradicating corruption in South Korea's government.

Advertisement

Defense industry corruption is more than just corruption," Moon said at a July 17 meeting of top aides that was covered by TV crews. I believe it's an act that breaks down all security and benefits our enemies.

Prosecutors searched KAI headquarters in Sacheon on South Korea's south central coast, about 160nautical miles south-southeast of Seoul, and its offices in the national capital July 15, according to numerous media in the country, including The Korea Times andYonhap News Agency. This week, prosecutors reportedly searched the offices of five KAI subcontractors.

On July 16, several news reports also said, South Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection criticized the performance of KAIs twin-engine transport and utility Surion helicopter and called for an investigation of the head of the country's Defense Acquisition Program Admin.

KAI developed the Surion under the 1.3 trillion won ($1.1 billion) Korea Helicopter Project in league with the countrys Agency for Defense Development, Korea Aerospace Research Institute and Airbus Helicopters. Work began in 2006 on the helicopter, which is based on the EC725. The Surion first flew in March 2010.

The watchdog agency reportedly said the Surion failed 29 of 101 items in tests to validate the helicopters performance in cold weather and had several other shortcomings. The Board of Audit and Inspection in 2015 reportedly found in a special audit that KAI made 24 billion won (about $21.3 million) by falsifying Surion development costs.

South Korea's only aircraft manufacturer, KAI has ties beyond Airbus Helicopters in the world's aerospace industry. It is partnered with Lockheed Martin in a bid to build the U.S. Air Forces next jet trainer. It also has been a supplier to Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky and to Bell Helicopter.

Originally posted here:

Government Scrutinizes Korea Aerospace Records, Tests - Rotor ... - Rotor & Wing International