Airbus Helicopters yesterday inked a deal worth 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) to build more than 300 civil and military helicopters for South Korea in partnership with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The deal is part of a South Korean military project to replace its ageing fleet of McDonnell Douglas' 500MD light helicopters, which have been in service for decades, KAI officials said. The firm was in competition with Italian-British group AgustaWestland, and the deal gives Airbus Helicopters an important foothold in a strategically vital market. In 2005, Airbus Helicopters won a similar contract for transport choppers called "Surion", also in partnership with KAI. South Korea unveiled the first Surion helicopter in 2009. KAI officials said the two deals with Airbus would help South Korea acquire independent technology and make inroads into the global helicopter market.