Maskinen er en vesentlig oppgradering av velkjente Little Bird som er basert på en sliter som opprinnelig het Hughes 500:
AH-60
(Red.)
Korean Air delivers first fuselage for Boeing AH-6
helicopters
By Mike Yeo
Jun 27, 05:35 PM
Boeing signed a deal in December 2021 for Korean
Air to build AH-6 fuselages. (Korean Air)
MELBOURNE, Australia — Korean Air has delivered
its first AH-6 helicopter fuselage built under a contract with Boeing, the
South Korean company announced June 26.
Korean Air signed the deal in December 2021 to
manufacture eight fuselages for AH-6 helicopters that will undergo final
assembly by Boeing Defense, Space and Security.
The AH-6 is a modernized, light attack variant of
the MH-6 special operations helicopter, which is based on the MD 500/OH-6 light
observation helicopter.
Korean Air did not specify the eventual user of
the helicopters, but Boeing has an outstanding
order for eight AH-6i helicopters from Thailand. The American firm was
awarded a $103 million contract under the Foreign Military Sales program for
the helicopters in February 2022, with delivery set for 2024 and 2025.
The Thai AH-6is will be fitted with Wescam MX-10
electro-optic sensors from L3 Harris Technologies, and will be compatible with
night vision goggles, according to a 2019 U.S. State Department approval
announcement for the proposed sale.
The announcement also said the proposed sale
includes 50 Lockheed Martin-made AGM-114R Hellfire missiles; 200 BAE Systems
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System laser-guided 2.75-inch rockets; Hydra
unguided rockets; Dillon M134 7.62mm miniguns; and 0.5-inch heavy machine guns.
The Royal Thai Army intends to use the AH-6i to
replace its fleet of Bell AH-1F attack helicopters.
Korean Air was the first South Korean company to
manufacture the MD 500 helicopter, which is also extensively used by the
country’s military. The company has also produced and sold 309 MD 500
helicopters to armed forces, public institutions and private companies from
1977 to 1988, and exported 516 fuselages for the type.
The company has also developed an unmanned MD 500,
and plans to collaborate with Boeing to expand its overseas sales and new
aircraft development and manufacturing business.
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar
Merk: Bare medlemmer av denne bloggen kan legge inn en kommentar.