Kim Won-wook, Director General of Hanwha Aerospace, emphasized the need for domestic production of aircraft engines and the importance of quickly starting the project on the 30th. Considering the power-up timing of the next-generation fighter, the project needs to progress swiftly.
Director General Kim attended the 11th Aerospace Leader Breakfast Forum, co-hosted by the Korea Aerospace Industries Association and Hanwha Aerospace, on the morning of the 30th, and noted that "the feasibility study and securing government budget should proceed rapidly with a goal of starting the project in 2027." About 100 representatives from small and medium-sized aerospace companies and industry-academia-research officials attended the forum.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration and others announced the ‘Basic Plan for Advanced Aircraft Engine Development’ at the beginning of the year, planning to invest 3.35 trillion won over 14 years to develop an engine with a performance of 16,000 lbf (pound-force; 1 lbf is the force exerted by Earth's gravity on a mass of 1 pound (approximately 453g)). The government expects the power-up timing for the KF-21 Block 3 to be in the 2040s, but considering the engine development period, the project must start by 2027 to meet the power-up timing.
Director General Kim also mentioned the necessity of domestic engine production. He stated that "around 80% of the cost of aircraft engines arises from materials and components," adding that "over 100 domestic corporations could replace the parts that were previously reliant on imports." Currently, the fighter jets in South Korea are equipped with engines developed using American technology, which require approval from the U.S. government for export. If the materials and components for the engines are domestically produced, it will secure price competitiveness for exports and allow for more freedom in engine enhancements.
He continued, saying, "Hanwha has invested about 1.8 trillion won in the aircraft engine sector over the past 10 years," and noted that "we will increase our research and development personnel, from about 200, to over 500 by 2028." He added, "As the only domestic aircraft engine corporation, we will undertake development with a sense of mission."