Korea Selatan Siap Operasikan Helikopter Buatannya

Presiden Korsel naik helikopter (Foto: Yonhap)

SEOUL, (IW) -- Korea Selatan (Korsel) kini siap mengoperasikan helikopter buatannya sendiri yang bernama Surion. Helikopter itu akan menggantikan Helikopter UH-1Hs setelah menjalani proses pengembangan selama enam tahun.

Industri Kedirgantaraan Korea (KAI) mengembangkan 10 Helikoter Utilitas (KUH-1)bersama Perusahaan Pertahanan Aeronautika dan Luar Angkasa Eropa. Pengembangan itu dilakukan bersamaan dengan pengembangan Eurocopter. Saat ini, helikopter tersebut sudah siap dioperasikan oleh pasukan Korsel.

Keberhasilan perakitan pesawat itu menjadikan Korsel sebagai negara ke-11 yang sanggup membangun helikopter. Negeri Ginseng itu sekaligus mendapatkan peringkat enam dalam hal kekuatan helikopter serbu.

Dalam bahasa Korea, "Surion" berarti lincah dan sempurna. Prototipe pertama dari Helikopter Surion diuji coba pada 2010 sebelum akhirnya diproduksi dengan skala besar pada 2012. Helikopter itu akan menggantikan helikopter UH-1H buatan Amerika Serikat (AS) dan 500MD yang sudah uzur.

Surion sukses diuji coba terbang di saat cuaca dingin. Uji coba itu berlangsung di Alaska pada Desember dan Februari lalu. Selama 2.700 jam terbang, Surion dinyatakan bebas dari kecelakaan dan gangguan mesin. 

Presiden Park Geun-Hye dan Menteri Pertahanan Kim Kwan-Jim menghadiri upacara peresmian helikopter itu di Kota Nonsan, Provinsi Chungcheong Selatan. Dalam prosesi bersejarah itu itu, Park berpidato dan menyinggung masalah perkembangan di Semenanjung Korea. 

"Ketika saya mengunjungi AS, saya dan Presiden Barack Obama menegaskan, kami akan menindak tegas seluruh provokasi dari Korea Utara (Korut), namun kami tetap membuka pintu untuk dialog," ujar Park, seperti dikutip Yonhap, Rabu (22/5/2013).

(okezone)

Production of Tarantula 6x6 has been Completed

Tarantula 6x6 with 90mm gun (photo : Doosan)

Localization of heavy armored wheeled vehicle Doosan DST exports to Indonesia

A heavy armored wheeled vehicle (6X6) built with our own technology will be exported to Indonesia.

(IW) -- Doosan DST signed a heavy armored wheeled vehicle contract in 2009 with the Indonesian army and commenced production of these vehicles in November 2011. After carrying out operational tests along with firing and field maneuvering tests starting in early 2012, Doosan DST announced on 5 May that the production of its 6X6 heavy armored wheeled vehicle has been completed in early May 2013.

Prior to this announcement, DAPA officials, Indonesian inspectors, and affiliated companies held a roll-out ceremony on 2 May for the heavy armored wheeled vehicle (name for the Indonesian army: Tarantula 6X6) that will be delivered to the Indonesian army.

The number of heavy armored wheeled vehicles that will be delivered to the Indonesian army. Doosan DST is responsible for manufacturing the armored vehicle and assembling the turret. Also, an Indonesian arms factory will assemble SKD-type armored vehicles on site in Indonesia.

The 6X6 heavy armored wheeled vehicles that will be delivered until the end of the year are 18 tons in weight and can hold 3 crew (driver, tank commander, gunner). Its top speed on ground is 100km per hour and can reach speeds up to 8km in the water.

The heavy armored wheeled vehicles that will be exported have been manufactured tailored to the Indonesian terrain and thus is lighter and can be operated in the water. Also, by arming these vehicles with a 90mm main gun and a 7.62mm machine gun, these vehicles possess the fire power capable of attacking dense enemy units as well as enemy tanks. At the same time, they are known as combat armored vehicles that can be operated for guerilla search and destroy operations.

Doosan DST also exported the K200A1 tracked armored vehicle to Malaysia for the first time in ROK history in 1993.

(Skorean MND)