Seoul: Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) and Korean Air Lines Co. have submitted bids for the military's project to upgrade its Black Hawk helicopters, the state arms procurement agency announced Tuesday. The 961.3 billion-won (US$654 million) project aims to upgrade the UH/HH-60 choppers, which were introduced to the South Korean military in the 1990s.
According to Yonhap News Agency, KAI, the only aircraft manufacturer in South Korea, has teamed up with U.S. defense company Sikorsky Aircraft, the original developer of the Black Hawk, as well as South Korean defense company Hanwha Systems. On the other hand, Korean Air, the national carrier of South Korea, has partnered with South Korean defense company LIG Nex1 Co. and other collaborators.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) plans to reveal the project's preferred bidder by the end of next month following a thorough review of the submitted proposals.