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KAI / Boeing KUS-VJ


Unmanned Attack Helicopter Gunship


South Korea | 2027



"The KUS-VJ is a unmanned rotary-wing gunship platform based on the MD500 and being proposed by Korean Air with technical assistance from Boeing."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the KAI / Boeing KUS-VJ Unmanned Attack Helicopter Gunship.
Estimated: 1 x Allison 250-C20B turboshaft engine developing 420 horsepower and driving five bladed main rotor and four-bladed tail rotor.
Propulsion
162 mph
260 kph | 140 kts
Max Speed
13,862 ft
4,225 m | 3 miles
Service Ceiling
435 miles
700 km | 378 nm
Operational Range
1,700 ft/min
518 m/min
Rate-of-Climb
Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the KAI / Boeing KUS-VJ Unmanned Attack Helicopter Gunship.
0
(UNMANNED)
Crew
23.0 ft
7.01 m
O/A Length
26.3 ft
(8.03 m)
O/A Width
8.5 ft
(2.60 m)
O/A Height
1,323 lb
(600 kg)
Empty Weight
2,866 lb
(1,300 kg)
MTOW
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the KAI / Boeing KUS-VJ Unmanned Attack Helicopter Gunship .
Variable - ordnance held across two wingstubs along fuselage sides and can include (in pairs of in single installation):

TOW Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs)
7.62mm General Electric M134 miniguns
Stinger short-range air-to-air missiles
Seven-shot rocket pods
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the KAI / Boeing KUS-VJ family line.
KUS-VJ - Proposed series designation
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 10/30/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The rise of unmanned attack aircraft over the battlefield is quite apparent to even the casual observer and Korean Air (Korean Aerospace Industries - KAI) of South Korea, along with U.S.-based Boeing, have agreed to jointly develop an unmanned, attack-minded version of the successful MD500 series light helicopter. With a large stock of aging MD500 units available to the South Korean Air Force, the project would see conversions of these systems to an unmanned model - designated "KUS-VH". A full-sized mock-up of the proposed product was seen at Seoul Aerospace & Defence Exhibition 2015.

Without the need of a pilot the helicopter will now see a reduced operational commitment over the battlescape. The passenger cabin is to be taken up by a large internal fuel tank increasing the operational range of the helicopter by 100%. The windscreen surfaces common to the MD500 will be shrouded over. By and large the overall form and function of the unit will remain intact. Optcis will be set in a fairing under the chin. Korean Air also markets the development under a low-cost approach to a comparable manned system of equal capabilities. Armament options will include rocket pods, gun pods and missiles which, when coupled to onboard systems, will provide a surgical strike capability with no potential pilot loss in enemy-held territory.

While the South Korean Air Force is not actively looking for a product like the KUS-VH, the possible reuse of the aging stock of MD500 helicopters might be tempting enough for the service to have a serious look. The MD500s currently in service will be retired over the next decade and number several hundred.

The Boeing participation in the program is key not only due to the company's position as a global defense powerhouse but also with its recent experience in developing its own H-6U "Little Bird" unmanned helicopter (detailed elsewhere on this site). The KUH-VH will be offered for export to American and South Korean allies.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

July 2020 - Korean Air has delayed additional development of its 500MD unmanned variant, choosing instead to finalized the Medium Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MUAV) design (detailed elsewhere on this site).

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the KAI / Boeing KUS-VJ. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 1 Units

Contractor(s): Korean Air - South Korea / Boeing Company - USA
National flag of South Korea

[ South Korea (possible) ]
1 / 1
Image of the KAI / Boeing KUS-VJ
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

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