UAE, Korea Aerospace Industries enter talks for KUH-1E helicopter buy阿联酋与韩国航空航天工业公司就购买KUH-1E直升机展开谈判
The United Arab Emirates is negotiating the purchase of South Korean helicopters, with the aim of signing a deal by year’s end.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United Arab Emirates is negotiating the purchase of South Korean helicopters, with the aim of signing a deal by year’s end, according to an official with the manufacturer.
The Emirati military is seeking an undisclosed number of KUH-1E helicopters from Korea Aerospace Industries, Cho Seok Joon, a senior manager with the company’s rotorcraft division, told Defense News during the Dubai Airshow, which runs Nov. 13-17.
The KUH-1E is an export version of the twin-engine KUH-1 Surion . The former can carry 18 people, including two pilots, whereas the latter can accommodate 18 total. The UAE is seeking a maritime variant.
“Instead of the gun present in the KUH, it is equipped with a radar,” Cho noted.
A spokesperson with the Emirati Defence Ministry told Defense News the country is currently evaluating the aircraft.
“At the ministry, we have several layers of tests for all equipment. Once it’s complete, we give our verdict,” the representative said.
The Surion can perform military transport and airfreight missions, among other functions.
The export variant’s power comes from a pair of 1,855-shaft-horsepower GE T700-701K turboshaft engines. It can reach a maximum speed of 147 knots (169 mph) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 19,200 pounds.
Awad Mustafa was a Middle East and Africa correspondent for Defense News.
阿联酋迪拜——据韩国直升机制造商的一位官员透露，阿联酋正在就购买韩国直升机进行谈判，目标是在年底前签署协议。
韩国航空航天工业公司旋翼机部门高级经理赵锡俊在11月13日至17日举行的迪拜航展期间告诉《防务新闻》，阿联酋军方正在向该公司寻求数量不详的KUH-1E直升机。
KUH-1E是双引擎KUH-1“苏里翁”直升机的出口版本。前者可搭载18人，包括两名飞行员，而后者总共可容纳18人。阿联酋正在寻求一种海上版本。
“KUH 上没有配备机枪，取而代之的是雷达，”赵指出。
阿联酋国防部发言人告诉《防务新闻》，该国目前正在对该款飞机进行评估。
“我们部门对所有设备都有多层测试。测试完成后，我们会给出最终结论。”这位代表说。
Surion 除了其他功能外，还可以执行军事运输和空运任务。
出口型飞机的动力来自两台1855轴马力的GE T700-701K涡轴发动机。它的最大速度可达147节（169英里/小时），最大起飞重量为19200磅。
阿瓦德·穆斯塔法曾是《防务新闻》的中东和非洲记者。