Concept model of Hanwha Aerospace's as-yet unnamed fighter jet engine, seen at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024. (Janes/Tom Barton)
Hanwha Aerospace has told Janes that it wants its indigenous jet engine, destined for the Republic of Korea's (RoK's) KF-21 fighter, to have the same dimensions as General Electric's (GE's) F414 engine, but to better it on performance.
Speaking to Janes at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024 held from 22 to 26 July, Won-Wook Kim, head of the advanced aero engine business unit at Hanwha Aerospace, said that they want the engine to fit inside the same aircraft as GE's F414, which they are currently helping to build for the KF-21 fighter under licence.
“So our engine has to have the same dimensions [as the F414]. It will just have better performance,” Kim said.
The previously discussed thrust of 15,000 lb only came from the RoK Air Force's (RoKAF's) design requirement, Kim said. “In reality ... our tests show it can generate 15,000–18,000 lb of thrust, and with afterburner 24,000–26,000 lb. What it ends up getting will depend on user requirements,” he added.
The engine could be produced with 100% indigenous components, but Kim added that if a partner was brought in, Hanwha Aerospace would want at least 50% role, and to be systems integrator. “We have contacted all the big names,” Kim said of potential international collaboration, while declining to name any specific firms and adding that the Korean government would have a say before any such partnership could take place.
Preliminary design review (PDR) is “years off”,Kim said, but he added they are expecting a national development plan from the RoKAF in 2024, which should help Hanwha Aerospace to mitigate development risk.
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