NEWS RELEASE
12 December 2001
Beaufort, S.C.
2 Stroke Int’l Ships Engines for Radio-Controlled Aircraft for Korean Military
Two Stroke International (2si.) exported a large order of engines for UAVs to a Korean company, A-Ju Industry Corp. A-Ju builds small airplanes commonly referred to as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the Korean military and is the exclusive distributor of 2si UAV engines in Korea. The engines were manufactured at the 2si factory and design facility in Beaufort, South Carolina. In addition, the order included various spare parts for repair purposes and other engine-related supplies.
A-Ju has an ongoing contract with the South Korean Military to supply and support these UAV aircraft. These airplanes are used as a target drone that pulls a drogue for military target practice. A number of aircraft are eventually accidentally destroyed which results in a yearly replenishment contract for A-Ju and 2si.
This kind of a business relationship is unusual for a South Carolina or even any American company since this type of equipment is more normally imported from Asia than exported to Asia.
“Our small size allows us to respond to unique configuration requirements and special interfaces” according to Jim Davey, Vice President, Marketing. “This allows us to design, configure, and supply the interfaces required to adapt our engines to a customer’s unique requirements. This frees up the customer’s staff and manufacturing facility by simplifying for them the design and manufacturing of the ancillary equipment and interfaces.”
2si also supplies aircraft engines for light aircraft UAVs built in the United States in addition to supplying engines for UAVs built in Korea. 2si’s revolutionary new lightweight diesel-fuel burning engines developed by 2si for Marine Corps transportable equipment are now also available in a larger and higher-power configuration. United State’s builders of UAVs have shown considerable interest in these engines. The 2si engines allow them to comply with the military one-fuel-forward initiative (DoD Directive 4140.25 Bulk Petroleum Management Policy) without being forced to use traditional heavy compression-ignition diesels or expensive fuel-hungry turbines.
Two Stroke International was formed when AMW and Cuyuna merged at the end of 1994 as the AMW Cuyuna Engine Company, Inc. The trade name “Two Stroke International” or “2si” was later adopted. The combined companies have targeted the lightweight high-performance niche in the engine marketplace including diesel/gasoline multi-fuel spark-ignited engines. Engines, gearboxes, belt drives, clutches, jet pumps and other ancillary equipment are supplied for light aircraft and UAVs, boats/PWCs, race cars, hovercraft, powered parachutes, military drones, transportable military equipment, portable generators and fire pumps, and other applications that require lightweight or portable power.
Additional information may be obtained free from the 2si website: www.2si.com or email engines@2si.com or call 2si at 843-846-2167or FAX 843-846-2169. Contact Jim Davey to schedule a tour of the Beaufort factory.