South Korea Enhancing its Search and Rescue Capabilities

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Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has completed deliveries of the eight KUH-1M Surion utility helicopters configured for medical evacuation (medevac) missions that were ordered by the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) in December 2018.

Medical evacuation is the en route care provided by medical personnel to wounded being evacuated from a battlefield, to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities, using medically equipped air ambulances, especially helicopters.

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that the twin-engined helicopters were acquired under a $197.6 million contract to improve the service’s capability to rescue troops and citizens in emergency situations, according to janes.com.

The medical evacuation version of the KUH-1 Surion helicopter made its public debut in 2017. The Surion is equipped with six stretchers, a main-cabin seat for a doctor, and a medical cabinet. It also has a weather radar and a rescue hoist.