KAI (Korea Aerospace Industries) announced on August 13 that it has signed a contract with the National Police Agency to supply one additional 'Chamsuri' helicopter.
The Chamsuri (KUH-1P) is a multipurpose helicopter modified and developed from the Army's Surion utility helicopter for police missions. It is equipped with advanced technology, including a high-performance electro-optical infrared camera and an aerial video transmission device, enabling rapid and accurate command and rescue operations in complex terrains such as mountains, seas, and urban areas.
The contract includes not only the helicopter itself but also maintenance parts, various support equipment, and the latest technical manuals. A KAI official stated, "We will support the National Police Agency in providing the best public safety services based on rapid technical support and reasonable maintenance costs."
KAI delivered the first Chamsuri helicopter based on the Surion in 2013 and has successfully supplied a total of 14 police helicopters to date. With the addition of this helicopter, the total supply has reached 15 units.
Meanwhile, the Surion is a domestically developed helicopter that has established itself in the public helicopter market, which has been dominated by foreign models. Currently, a total of 43 Surion helicopters have been contracted for various national agencies, including the police, coast guard, fire services, forestry, and national parks, solidifying their role as key assets for these organizations.
The Surion helicopters used by the coast guard are equipped with search radars and AIS (Automatic Identification System) for coastal patrol and search missions, while those used by fire services, forestry, and national parks are outfitted with belly water tanks and EMS kits for firefighting and mountain rescue operations.
Notably, during the large forest fires in Uiseong and Sancheong last year, the Surion helicopters were deployed for nighttime firefighting operations. In line with the government's initiative to enhance large-scale firefighting capabilities, KAI plans to develop a new belly water tank to increase the water capacity from 2 tons to 2.7 tons, with delivery scheduled for 2027 to the Gangwon Fire Service.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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