With the launch of the new government, there is interest in whether the project to develop a 16,000 lbf (pound force; 1 lbf is the force exerted by Earth's gravity on a mass of 1 pound) advanced aircraft engine using domestic technology will gain momentum. The aviation engine project, currently in planning stages, requires processes like a report to the Defense Industry Promotion Committee (DIPC) to secure funding for its full-scale launch, but it has been stalled due to the state of emergency declared on Dec. 3 and the impeachment crisis. The aviation engine development project involves Hanwha Aerospace and Doosan Enerbility.
According to the defense industry on the 12th, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) is continuing preparatory work to report the basic plan for advanced aircraft engine development at the upcoming DIPC meeting next month. Once the reporting procedure is completed, budget execution will become possible. The Advanced Technology Project Management Committee, which reviewed the basic plan, is an internal procedure of DAPA.
The advanced aircraft engine development project aims to develop a 16,000 lbf class aircraft engine to be mounted on the Korea’s next-generation fighter jet KF-21 platform by 2040, with a total budget of 3.35 trillion won. The goal is to create a better aircraft engine that improves fuel consumption efficiency by 15% compared to the General Electric (GE) F414 engine used in the KF-21.
After declaring the aircraft engine development in 2023, DAPA formed a dedicated organization within the agency and established plans with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and others. The plan was to complete the administrative procedures by the end of last year, but the announcement of the basic plan was delayed due to the state of emergency declared on Dec. 3. Although DAPA announced the basic plan last January, the lack of a Minister made it difficult to report the basic plan, causing the project to lose momentum.
The development of high-temperature component technology for the next-generation aircraft weapon system, which was scheduled to start in the first half of this year, has also been postponed. This project aims to secure the technology for materials that can withstand engine temperatures exceeding 1,600 degrees Celsius, as this is a prerequisite for engine development.
DAPA was scheduled to begin developing highly technical components such as combustion chambers and low-pressure turbines over the next four years starting in the first half of this year, but this has also been delayed. The current plan's target start date is the first half of 2026, with an announcement expected early next year.
The development of aircraft engines requires a long time and large-scale funding, making policy consistency important. A defense official said, 'If the development of the aircraft engine is delayed, there could be a situation where it is produced domestically but not used. A strong driving force is needed to lead the development.'
The engine in the basic plan aims to be mounted on the KF-21 block 3 (third performance improvement), which is projected to enter service around 2040. Delays in engine development could mean that the timing of the KF-21's entry into service might not align.
The defense industry is pinning hopes on the president's commitment to aircraft engine development. President Lee Jae-myung pledged aircraft engine development during campaigning in the Changwon area last May. An industry official said, 'The aircraft engine development project has remained stagnant since the plan was established. A swift start to the project is necessary.'