S.Korea Orders 80 Hanwha Engines for Boramae Jets
Hanwha Aerospace has received a contract to supply propulsion systems for South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae fifth-generation combat aircraft.
Costing 623.2 billion won ($460.7 million), the deal includes 80 General Electric F414s manufactured domestically under license by the Changwon-based company.
The package covers logistics support, sustainment partners, and on-site support.
Hanwha is expected to deliver the engines to Seoul’s defense materiel acquisition agency by December 2028, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The latest contract brings the East Asian country’s investment in KF-21 propulsion to 1.18 trillion won ($872.7 million), with an estimate of over 60 jets now set to be equipped.
“With our advanced 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,” Hanwha said.
South Korea publicized its KF-21 program in 2015 to replace the military’s F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger II aircraft with a domestic solution.
In collaboration with Korea Aerospace Industries, the government plans to produce up to 120 KF-21 Boramae fighters by the early 2030s. The initial phase commenced in 2024, with the first batch of approximately 20 jets slated for delivery between 2026 and 2027.
The KF-21 Boramae
A KF-21 measures 17 meters (57 feet) in length and has a wingspan of 11 meters (36 feet).
It has an empty weight of 11,800 kilograms (26,015 pounds), a 7,700-kilogram (16,976-pound) payload capacity, and a 6,000-kilogram (13,228-pound) fuel capacity.
Users can arm the aircraft with a rotary autocannon, multi-domain missiles, precision bombs, and unguided missiles.
The KF-21 is fitted with two F414 engines with a combined output of 110,000 horsepower, allowing a flight speed of Mach 1.8 (2,223 kilometers/1,381 miles per hour), a range of 1,500 nautical miles (2,778 kilometers/1,726 miles), and an operational altitude of 16,700 meters (54,790 feet).
