S . Korean aircraft maker KAI wins 200 bln - won medical helicopter deal SEOUL , Dec . 14 ( Yonhap ) -- Korea Aerospace Industries Co . ( KAI ) , the country ' s sole aircraft manufacturer , said Friday it has won a 200 billion - won ( US $ 176 million ) medical evacuation helicopter contract from the state defense acquisition agency . The Defense Acquisition Program Administration plans to field the medevac helicopters by 2020 , KAI said in a statement . It is the first time that the South Korean military will adopt dedicated medevac helicopters . The new machines will be based on the Surion KUH - 1 multirole choppers already in service with the South Korean Army , it said . This undated photo provided by KAI shows the medical evacuation version of the Surion helicopter . ( Yonhap ) kyongae . choi @ yna . co . kr ( END )