Latest news with #Surion
Korea Herald
30-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
DAPA to streamline procedures for joint civil-military space projects
Military plans to operate at least 30 ultrasmall satellites by 2030 South Korea's arms procurement agency is seeking to streamline the management of joint civil-military space development projects, including the planned operation of ultrasmall satellites, in a bid to reduce inefficiencies caused by overlapping regulations. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Wednesday it has commissioned a study to establish standardized procedures for projects jointly pursued and operated by the government, military and industries. DAPA explained that such projects often suffer from inefficiencies, such as clashes between civilian and military regulations that often lead to procedural conflicts. A key example of such a project is the military's plan to launch a cluster of at least 30 ultrasmall satellites by 2030 into outer space. The system is designed to closely monitor North Korea and swiftly detect signs of potential provocations. The program is jointly led by DAPA, the Korea Aerospace Administration and the Korea Coast Guard, with participation from research institutions including the Agency for Defense Development and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. Industry partners include Hanwha Systems and Korea Aerospace Industries. Pointing to similar challenges observed in previous joint projects, including the Surion helicopter and light armed and civil helicopter programs, DAPA stressed the need for improved oversight. "As civil-military space programs continue to grow, standardized project management is essential to ensure smooth operational deployment (of such military assets)," a DAPA official said. "The goal is to avoid redundant oversight while achieving public objectives." DAPA aims to complete the standardization of procedures and introduce related administrative rules next year.
Korea Herald
29-05-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Navy patrol aircraft crashes in Pohang during drill
A P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, carrying four people, crashed into a mountain near a naval base in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, authorities said Thursday. The Navy confirmed in the afternoon that a P-3 patrol aircraft with four aboard crashed into an area near its naval base soon after 1:43 p.m. The aircraft was engaged in a military training exercise, it added. As of press time, the Navy said the cause of the crash was unknown and any casualties remained unknown as of 2:51 p.m. "A P-3 maritime patrol aircraft that took off for training from an air base in Pohang at 1:43 p.m. crashed at a nearby location due to unidentified reasons," the Navy said in a notice to reporters. The crash appeared to have caused a fire, with heavy smoke covering the area, according to photos provided by the local media. The National Fire Agency said 40 firefighters and two helicopters were deployed to the crash site on a mountain in Pohang, after receiving reports at around 1:50 p.m. Thursday's crash came nearly three months after an uncrewed aerial vehicle crashed into a Surion utility helicopter at an aviation battalion at an Army base in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, in mid-March. The fire destroyed both aircraft, but there were no casualties. Also on March 6, two KF-16 fighter jets accidentally bombed a village in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, during a training exercise, injuring multiple people. The incident was caused by a pilot entering incorrect target coordinates.
Iraq Business
24-04-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
Iraq discusses buying Korean Defence Helicopters
By John Lee. Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet Mohammed has discussed expanding cooperation with South Korea on air and mobile defense systems, including the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH-1), also known as 'Surion'. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the IQDEX 2025 International Defense Exhibition , held in Baghdad from 19th to 22nd of April. Korean companies attending the exhibition included Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI), LIG Nex1, and Hyundai Rotem. Full statement from South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA): The Defense Business Administration participated in the 'IQDEX 2025 (International Defense Exhibition Iraq) held in Baghdad from April 19th to 22nd, and carried out activities to promote K-defense exports. IQDEX is one of the international defense exhibitions involving defense officials and global defense companies from major Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq. This year, Korean Aerospace Industries Co., Ltd., LIGnex One, Hyundai Rotem, and other domestic defense companies participated in the exhibition to actively promote the technology and reliability of K-Defense in the local area. In particular, institutions such as the Korean Embassy (Ambassador Choi Sung-soo) and the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) have also provided a full-scale support for the promotion of defense exports. The Defense Business Administration attended the exhibition with the head of the helicopter business (Army Brigadier General (Jin) Ko Hyung-seok), and during a high-level interview with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, the Defense Business Administration discussed in-depth cooperation measures for the export of mobile and air defense weapons systems that Iraq is interested in, including the Korean mobile helicopter Surion (KUH). The Defense Business Administration met with Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet Mohammed and expressed its willingness to actively work to further develop the rapidly expanding defense cooperation between the two countries in recent years. In response, Defense Minister Tabet expressed his high confidence in the Korean defense sector and emphasized the need for bilateral cooperation to promote defense cooperation. The meeting is expected to be an important step towards a subsequent expansion of exports. Together with our defense companies, the Defense Business Administration has actively introduced the performance and operation experience of various weapons systems that Iraq shows interest in, such as manoeuvre and air defense weapons systems, and has tried to expand the scope of defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthen the foundation for K-Defense's entry into the Middle East market. The head of the Heliang Business Administration (Jin), said, "Through this participation in IQDEX 2025, we were able to further strengthen our defense cooperation with Iraq and actively promote the excellence of K-defense, including Surion and LAH, and continue to support the global market expansion of domestic defense companies through active support from the government level." The Defense Business Administration will continue to actively explore the possibility of defense cooperation with countries in the Middle East, including Iraq, and continue its efforts to improve the global competitiveness of K-Defense. (Source: Defense Acquisition Program Administration)
Korea Herald
23-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Arms agency hold talks on Surion helicopter exports to Iraq during arms fair
South Korea's arms procurement agency said Wednesday it has taken part in a defense exhibition in Iraq and held talks with Iraqi military officials over exports of the South's Surion helicopters. Officials from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration visited the Middle Eastern country for the International Defense Exhibition from Saturday through Tuesday to promote South Korean weapons systems, according to the agency. In a meeting with Iraq's Defense Minister Thabet Mohammed Al-Abbasi, DAPA officials expressed their willingness to advance growing defense cooperation between the two nations. The Iraqi defense minister was quoted as stressing the need to bolster bilateral cooperation in the arms industry and expressed deep trust in the South Korean arms industry, according to DAPA. In December, South Korean defense firm Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. signed a 136 billion-won ($95.3 million) deal to export Surion helicopters to Iraq by March 2029, in what marked the first export of the homegrown chopper. The Surion, also known as the Korean Utility Helicopter, is a medium-sized utility helicopter that has been deployed in the South Korean Army since 2012. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
09-04-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Drone-helicopter collision caused by sudden gust of wind: military
A collision between a military drone and a helicopter last month was caused by a sudden gust of wind during the drone's landing, an Army official said Wednesday. An Army investigation committee reached the conclusion after analyzing video recordings, surveillance camera footage and flight data from the March 17 collision between a Heron reconnaissance drone and a Surion helicopter at an airfield in Yangju, just north of Seoul. "The committee did not identify any human error, equipment flaws, or problems with maintenance systems or military discipline," the Army official said. The investigation found that a gust of wind pushed the Heron drone upward while it was trying to land in automatic landing mode. During its next landing attempt, another gust of wind combined with a cross wind to push the drone off the runway and into the parked helicopter. In the wake of the accident, the Army will quickly install warning systems against rapidly changing winds and nets around the helicopter parking area. The collision left both aircraft destroyed but no one injured. (Yonhap)
