Hanwha Aerospace announces 4,500-lbf UAV engine project

Hanwha Aerospace is developing a new 4,500 lbf-class engine for collaborative combat aircraft (CCA). (Korean Air)

Hanwha Aerospace has announced plans to develop a new 4,500-lbf-class turbofan engine for collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in collaboration with the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA).

The joint development programme aims to deliver the powerplant by 2029 through a matching-fund investment model, Hanwha Aerospace said on 26 May. Hanwha Aerospace said it will lead engine development, with KASA providing funding support. The company added that it will also invest in engine design, core component development, test infrastructure, and production readiness.

The fuel-efficient, high-bypass engine will also be the first domestically developed South Korean powerplant to integrate a starter-generator on the engine shaft, the firm said.

Capable of supplying up to 100kW of electrical power, the starter-generator is intended to support high-energy systems on CCA platforms, including computing, radar, electronic warfare (EW), and sensors.

The 4,500-lbf-class engine forms part of a broader UAV propulsion portfolio being developed by Hanwha Aerospace with South Korean government support.

This portfolio includes a 5,500-lbf-class low-bypass turbofan engine for the Korean Air Aerospace Business Division (KAL-ASD) Low Observable Wingman UAV System (LOWUS), and a separate 1,400-horsepower-class turboprop engine for the Medium Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MUAV) Block II and other medium-altitude UAVs. Both power plants are currently under development.

The company is also developing core technologies for a 10,000-lbf-class turbofan engine for unmanned stealth platforms.

According to Hanwha Aerospace, the UAV engine portfolio is backed by approximately KRW750 billion (USD500 million) in planned investments covering UAV platforms, engine development, and related infrastructure.

Beyond military applications, the 4,500-lbf-class engine “could also be adapted for small business jets and other commercial aircraft”, the company said.