Press Release

A large fleet of Ka-32s is in service in Korea for cargo, SAR and firefighting missions.

Issued by Russian Helicopters, JSC.

October 14, 2019

Russian Helicopters, a part of Rostec State Corporation, will offer its partners from South Korea a modernisation programme for the Ka-32 multipurpose helicopter fleet. The programme for upgrading this type of helicopter will be presented at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2019 (Seoul ADEX 2019) by Russian Helicopters' official dealer RH Focus Corp. The producer suggests that avionics, engines and a firefighting system should be upgraded in rotorcraft which have been used in South Korea since the 1990s.

The Ka-32 upgrade programme includes equipping the helicopter with a glass cockpit, more powerful VK-2500PS-02 engines and a new firefighting system. All these units will be presented at Seoul ADEX from October 15 through October 20. The modernised version of the helicopter has been indexed as Ka-32A11M.

"This exhibition is especially important for Rostec's aviation cluster, as we start cooperation in a new format: for the first time Russian Helicopters' designs are shown on the stand of our official dealer RH Focus Corp. We have cooperated with this company in the sphere of after-sales service, and both our firms have benefited from this. There is a good reason why the upgraded Ka-32 helicopter has been selected for our joint exposition: the fleet of these rotorcraft in Korea is fairly large, and they have proved their efficiency in terms of transporting cargo, search and rescue operations and firefighting," said director general of Russian Helicopters holding company Andrey Boginsky.

“Our forests are lush green, made by the contribution of the Korea Forest Service and the Russian helicopters operated by them. Most of the Russian helicopters operating in South Korea, including those operated by KFS, are aged ones that have been in operation since the mid-1990s. The upgrade to apply the latest items and technologies that we will introduce at Seoul ADEX 2019 will further improve the performances of existing helicopters, which will maximise efficiency much more economically than new purchase," said the CEO of RH Focus Corp. Soo Un Kim. "At ADEX 2019 I would like to let our customers know the excellence of the helicopter's performance when the state-of-the-art avionics equipment to be presented this time is combined with the coaxial rotor of the Ka-32.”

Ka-32 helicopters are used by South Korean state agencies for performing a wide range of tasks, from firefighting to search and rescue operations and offshore patrolling. They are also used by the country's commercial services as "flying cranes" for construction and installation.

The technical solutions in the avionics of the Ka-32A11M helicopter have already been tested on the Ansat, Mi-38 and Ka-62 civil multipurpose helicopters. Compared to its foreign counterparts, the new SP-32 water tank made in Russia has a more attractive price and can carry up to four tonnes of water. It also has digital control and upgraded water intake and discharge ergonomics. In addition, it can be operated at sub-zero temperatures.

Along with the Ka-32A11M Russian Helicopters will also show the medium multipurpose Mi-171A2, light multipurpose Ka-226T and Ansat helicopters at Seoul ADEX 2019. The joint display of Russian Helicopters and Helicopter Service Company (HSC) in Seoul was organised by the South Korean company RH Focus Corp, which is the holding company's official dealer.

HSC managing director Ivan Serov is the head of Russian Helicopters' delegation at Seoul ADEX. Under his supervision the holding company's specialists will discuss maintenance and repair of Ka-32 and Mi-8/17 helicopters.

The all-weather civilian helicopter Ka-32 with coaxial rotors was developed by the Kamov Design Bureau of Russian Helicopters holding company. Serial production of Ka-32 machines is carried out by JSC Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise. Currently, over 240 machines have been built, which are operated in more than 30 countries all over the world. The coaxial rotor scheme provides the helicopter with a range of important stabilisation and manoeuvrability advantages, especially in relation to firefighting. The configuration of the Ka-32A11BC serial helicopter's equipment includes over 100 options.

Helicopter Service Company provides materials and equipment for operation of helicopters made by Russian Helicopters' enterprises. Since 2006 it has been the only authorised vendor of new aviation inventory made by the holding company's enterprises and sold to meet the needs related to after-sales service of Russian helicopters.