Airbus Helicopters has announced it will develop, jointly with Korea Aerospace Industries, two five-ton-class rotorcraft that meet “South Korea’s requirements for its next-generation Light Civil Helicopter (LCH) and Light Armed Helicopter (LAH).” Both will be based on the 10,800-pound H155, formerly known as the EC155B1. As part of the agreement, Airbus Helicopters will transfer the company’s technical know-how for Korea to develop new indigenous products. The program is similar to that already used with the Surion utility twin. “We are committing our full support in ensuring the LCH and LAH projects will be completed on time, on cost and to specification,” said Airbus Helicopters CEO Guillaume Faury.

The $1.5 billion deal covers production of approximately 300 LCH/LAH–the LAH accounting for the majority–in Korea.

The LCH will have a new canopy, new avionics (full glass cockpit) and new main gearbox with significantly increased time between overhaul. It is expected to enter service in 2020, followed by the LAH in 2022. The H155 features the same digital four-axis autopilot as the Surion, Airbus noted. A company executive in January told AIN the competitor in the tender was AgustaWestland.