“Hanwha Aerospace has been awarded a contract to provide propulsion systems for South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
The deal, which is worth 623.2 billion Korean won ($460.7 million), calls for 80 locally produced General Electric F414s that are made under license by the Changwon-based firm.
The package includes on-site assistance, maintenance partners, and logistical support.
According to the Yonhap News Agency, Hanwha is anticipated to supply the engines to the Seoul defense materiel purchase organization by December 2028.
With an estimated 60+ aircraft scheduled 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).
“Using our cutting-edge aviation engine technology, we will guarantee the timely delivery of KF-21 engines and keep helping to create the next generation of propulsion systems for national defense,” Hanwha stated.
In 2015, South Korea announced its KF-21 program as a homegrown alternative to the military’s F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger II planes.
The government intends to manufacture about 120 KF-21 Boramae fighters by the early 2030s in partnership with Korea Aerospace Industries. With the first batch of around 20 jets scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2027, the initial phase began in 2024.
