South Korea has moved closer to powering its next-generation fighter jets with a homegrown engine, as the government finalised a long-term investment plan and development schedule for the program.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration confirmed that the Advanced Aviation Engine Development Project will run from 2027 to 2040, backed by W3.4 trillion or roughly $3.4 billion in funding.
The effort aims to deliver a fighter-class engine producing 16,000 pounds of military thrust and 24,000 pounds with afterburners, exceeding earlier performance targets outlined by Seoul.
“This project will involve the development and production of a prototype of an advanced aircraft engine, conducting development and certification testing, and completing preparations for system-mounted flight tests,” says the DAPA.
“This will enable future flight tests on domestically produced fighter jets,” as reported by FlightGlobal.
The engine will serve as the powerplant for the KF-21 Block 3 fighter, which South Korea plans to field around 2040 as part of its long-term air combat roadmap.
Engine goals and scope
Engine development will begin in 2027 and progress through prototype manufacturing, testing, and certification before aircraft integration.
Officials describe the program as essential for improving performance and reducing dependence on imported propulsion systems.
The new engine targets a 15 percent reduction in specific fuel consumption compared with the General Electric F414 engine currently used on the KF-21.
Block 1 and Block 2 versions of the fighter will continue to rely on the F414, which Hanwha Aerospace produces locally under license.
Seoul has promoted indigenous engine development for years, citing both operational and economic concerns.
The Block 3 configuration marks the first platform intended to fly with a fully domestic fighter jet engine.
Government and industry alignment
To manage the program, South Korea recently set up an inter-ministerial coordination body bringing together defense, industry, and aviation authorities.
The council aims to prevent overlapping efforts and policy disputes that have delayed previous aerospace projects.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration plans to convene the first meeting later this month.
Officials from the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea AeroSpace Administration, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport are expected to participate.
Hanwha Aerospace will lead industrial work on the engine, drawing on its experience producing foreign fighter engines.
Doosan Enerbility has also joined the program, signaling a broader push to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities.
South Korea’s combat aircraft fleet currently depends on foreign-made engines, mainly from the United States.
This reliance can limit export approvals and impose operational constraints during maintenance and overhaul cycles.
Officials believe a domestically developed engine will ease these restrictions, improve readiness, and support future exports of the KF-21.
The government also expects the program to generate spillover benefits for civilian aerospace technologies over the long term.
By setting clear funding and timelines, Seoul has turned its ambition for an indigenous fighter jet engine into a structured national program.