Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has selected GE Aviation to supply the health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) for the Korean Marine Attack Helicopter (KMAH). The selection follows the provision by GE of more than 250 HUMS for KAI’s KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter.
HUMS monitors and records data in real time from various key systems, such as engines, transmissions, bearings, and rotors. Data resides in a cartridge that assists maintenance personnel in isolating premature deterioration of critical systems, as well as providing data for routine maintenance tasks.
Having evaluated buying foreign helicopters such as the Bell AH-1Z, South Korea elected in November to develop the indigenous KMAH to answer its need for a naval attack craft. KAI based the platform on the MUH-1 Marineon utility helicopter to maximize commonality and interoperability between the two types. The MUH-1 itself is a marine variant of the Republic of Korea Army’s Surion.