Hanwha Aerospace has won a deal to provide propulsion systems for South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae fifth-generation fighter jet.
The contract, which cost 623.2 billion Korean won ($460.7 million), covers 80 General Electric F414s that the Changwon-based business produced locally under license.
The package includes on-site support, sustainment partners, and logistical assistance.
According to the Yonhap News Agency, Hanwha is anticipated to supply the engines to Seoul’s defense material acquisition agency by December 2028.
With an estimated 60+ jets now set to be equipped, the most recent agreement increases the East Asian nation’s investment in KF-21 propulsion to 1.18 trillion won ($872.7 million).
Hanwha stated, “Using our cutting-edge aviation engine technology, we will ensure timely delivery of KF-21 engines and continue to contribute to the development of next-generation propulsion systems for national defense.”
In 2015, South Korea announced its KF-21 program, which seeks to develop a homegrown alternative to the military’s F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger II fighter planes.
By the beginning of the 2030s, the government hopes to manufacture as many as 120 KF-21 Boramae fighters in conjunction with Korea Aerospace Industries. The first set of about 20 planes is scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2027, marking the start of the program in 2024.
