The government has designated advanced aviation engine core material and component technology as national advanced strategic technology, accelerating the pace of private and public development for domestic aircraft engine production. Doosan Enerbility has issued a challenge to Hanwha Aerospace, the leading player, as competition for technology in achieving self-sufficiency in aircraft engines unfolds.
According to the aviation and defense industry on the 15th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced a revised notice regarding the designation of national advanced strategic technology on the 12th, which includes advanced aviation engine core material and component technology for unmanned and manned aircraft exceeding 15,000 lbf (pound-force, capable of lifting a weight of 16,000 pounds) as well as humanoid robot technology. With the addition of these two technologies, the total number of national advanced strategic technologies has increased to 19. Once designated as national advanced strategic technology, approval from the Industrial Technology Protection Committee and the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy is required for foreign investment to prevent overseas leakage.
Aircraft engines are a culmination of advanced technologies such as materials, precision processing, and electronic control, with only a few countries possessing independent technologies. Currently, only six countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Ukraine, and China, have the technology for designing and producing their own aircraft engines. The government aims to develop advanced aviation engines exceeding 16,000 lbf by investing approximately 3.35 trillion won over a span of 14 years until 2039. The plan is to enhance domestic industrial ecosystems and supply chains while increasing national security capabilities through domestic aircraft engine production.
Hanwha Aerospace is leading the way, having surpassed the production of 10,000 aircraft engines last year. It is the only company in the country that conducts the entire process of design, manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO). Hanwha Aerospace will supply the F414 engine for the first domestically produced fighter aircraft, KF-21, which is scheduled for mass production next year. This engine is produced using a license from GE Aerospace in the United States. Although Hanwha Aerospace has localized some components, it must obtain approval from the United States for exports since the original technology resides there. Securing independent aircraft engine technology is urgent for independent exports.
Hanwha Aerospace is investing substantial resources in material development in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Materials Science and other organizations. Materials and components are said to account for about 80% of the cost of an aircraft engine. The goal is to produce advanced aviation engines with domestic technology by localizing materials and components currently reliant on imports through over 100 domestic companies. There are plans to expand the research and development workforce from around 200 to over 500 by 2028.
Latecomer Doosan Enerbility has recently established collaborative alliances with Korean Aerospace Industries and Korean Air, fully launching its aircraft engine development project. Previously, in March of last year, Doosan Enerbility expanded its business scope to include the production of aircraft engines.
Doosan Enerbility's proprietary development of power generation gas turbine core technology, recognized as fifth in the world, is seen as its strength. Since the technology base for power generation gas turbines and aircraft engines is similar, with analogous structures and operating principles, Doosan Enerbility believes there is potential for synergy across all sectors, including materials, design, production, and material development.