Korean Air delivers AH-6 helicopter fuselage to Boeing

Korean Air Lines Co. announced on Monday that it has delivered the initial production units of AH-6 helicopter fuselages for the AH-6 project awarded by Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS), the defense and space division of the Boeing Company.

Korean Air had previously signed a deal with Boeing in Dec. 2021 to manufacture a total of eight AH-6 helicopter fuselages for delivery to the Thai Army. The company explained that it is difficult to disclose the exact number of units delivered among the eight units due to contractual obligations.

The AH-6 fuselages delivered by Korean Air will undergo finalization by BDS before being deployed for actual operations. The initial production work involved the collaboration with Kencoa Aerospace, a domestic aircraft component supplier.

Korean Air attributed its extensive helicopter manufacturing know-how accumulated over several decades as the background for securing this contract.

From 1977 to 1988, Korean Air produced a total of 309 units of the 500MD, the first domestically produced helicopter, which were sold to the military, public institutions and private companies. Additionally, it produced and exported 516 fuselages separately and successfully completed the unmanned conversion project for the 500MD.

"We will successfully conclude the remaining AH-6 helicopter fuselage manufacturing project and actively participate in the development and production of other new aircraft models," a Korean Air source said. 

Write to Mi-Sun Kang at misunny@hankyung.com