The Korea Aerospace Industries multipurpose helicopter "Surion" is being exported to Iraq. This is the first export of a domestic helicopter.
On the 23rd, Korea Aerospace Industries announced that it signed a contract with the Iraqi government for the "KUH export project." The contract amount is 135.77329 billion won, and the duration is from March 31, 2025, to March 31, 2029.
A representative from Korea Aerospace Industries noted, "The contract expiration date is the expected final delivery date and may change depending on future progress, and it will be re-announced if changes occur."
The Iraqi Ministry of Interior also reported on the 22nd (local time) through social media that it signed a contract to introduce two Surion helicopters from Korea Aerospace Industries. The Iraqi side stated, "This is a contract for the introduction of two special firefighting aircraft," adding that "expenses for training Iraqi helicopter pilots, maintenance technicians, and others are included."
Earlier, in March, it was noted that the possibility of Surion exports increased when high-ranking officials from the Iraqi military, including Major General Samir Zaki Hussein Al-Maliki, head of the Army Aviation Command, visited Korea. At that time, it was reported that Commander Al-Maliki was aboard a Surion while traveling from the capital region to the Korea Aerospace Industries headquarters in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province. It is also said that he observed the operation of the Surion series medium helicopter "White Eagle" and directly boarded it in Sacheon.
The Surion is the first domestically developed transport helicopter, developed by the Korea Defense Acquisition Program Administration in collaboration with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Korea Aerospace Industries since 2006. It is used not only for military purposes in South Korea but also in various forms for police, coast guard, firefighting, and forestry.
The Surion reached the final stage of export discussions with the Philippine government in 2019 but ultimately failed to secure the export due to competition with Lockheed Martin's subsidiary Sikorsky's UH-60 Black Hawk. At that time, the South Korean government proposed exporting 10 Surions to the Philippines, but Lockheed Martin offered 16 UH-60 helicopters at a similar price, leading to a loss in price competitiveness.