Vertiflite May/June 2021

Forecast International’s 10-year projection of global civil rotorcraft deliveries.

Korean Army, while the Light Civil Helicopter (LCH) is a related variant intended for commercial operators. Initial deliveries of both models are planned for 2023. Deliveries of the first production examples of Subaru’s new UH-X utility helicopter to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) are expected to begin by January 2023. The JGSDF plans to acquire 150 UH-Xs over 20 years to replace the service’s fleet of UH-1Js. The UH-X is based on the Subaru Bell 412EPX commercial helicopter, which is an enhanced variant of the Bell 412EPI. Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) maintains a wide-ranging product line of rotorcraft for military and civil applications. Among the military models in the AVIC line-up are the Z-10 attack helicopter, the Z-20 medium-lift transport, the

helicopters is Russian Helicopters’ most popular product family, and the firm continually revitalizes and refreshes this series with improved versions. Russian Helicopters also continues to expand its product line with rotorcraft such as the enhanced Ka-52M attack helicopter, the new Mi-38T and the giant Mi-26T2V heavy-lift transport. Asia will be a particularly dynamic market for military rotorcraft during the next 10 years. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has successfully leveraged its Surion utility/transport helicopter into a family of variants targeted at various market segments and customer types. Currently available are Surion models designed for amphibious assault, medical evacuation, firefighting, and search and rescue, among other roles. KAI is also developing a pair of new rotorcraft based on the Airbus Helicopters H155 — the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) is an attack model for the South

May / June 2021

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