Military Training Helicopter to Be Decided Soon... Bell and Airbus in Fierce Competition

by Yang Nakgyu

Published 26 Apr.2022 11:00(KST)

Belsa's B505 helicopter

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The basic flight training helicopter (THX) model to replace the military training helicopter is expected to be finalized within this month. The military had planned to invest 170 billion won in 2015 to import a total of about 40 units from overseas, including 30 for the Army and 10 for the Navy, but the bidding was canceled, causing a delay of seven years.

Bell's B505 helicopter is an advanced version of the best-selling B206 helicopter and was first unveiled at the Paris Air Show in June 2013, with its first flight in November 2014. The B505 helicopter features improved flight performance over the existing B206L4 helicopter, a cockpit windshield that broadens the pilot's field of view, and larger crew access doors. It is equipped with the latest electronic devices for piloting as well as a terrain avoidance warning system, making it recognized as a highly safe helicopter. The B505 helicopter's airframe weight is 2 tons under operational conditions.

Airbus is promoting the H125 helicopter. Airbus's H125 helicopter was mass-produced as a lightly armed helicopter equipped with machine guns and rockets. The rotor blades use composite materials to enhance flight performance. It is known that 550 units of the H125 helicopter were in operation worldwide as of 2021. There is also the latest version, the H130 helicopter, which is a redesigned model of the H125.

The model initially considered most likely was the upgraded 500E helicopter from the U.S. MDHI. Currently, 90% of the parts of the 500MD used by our military are compatible. The upgraded 500E helicopter is currently in production, and programs necessary for the performance improvement and lifespan extension of the 500MD are being operated. MDHI emphasizes that upgrading the 500MD can reduce the budget by about 50-80% compared to the existing project, and since the 500E helicopter is being produced, parts can be supplied for the next 30 years. However, it is known that MDHI did not participate in this bidding.