Hanwha Aerospace Signs First Mass-Produced Engine Supply Contract for South Korean KF-21 Jet

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has signed a 556.2 billion won ($400 million) contract with Hanwha Aerospace for the supply of the first mass-produced engine for the KF-21 combat jet.

The contract period is from June 2024 to December 2027, during which Hanwha Aerospace will deliver 40 F414 engines and spare modules to be mounted on the KF-21, and will also provide follow-up logistics support such as engine maintenance manuals and field technical support.

The engines to be delivered through this contract will be installed in the first mass-produced vehicles of the KF-21. Hanwha Aerospace plans to supply engines until the end of KF-21 mass production.

Hanwha Systems has also signed a contract worth approximately 110 billion won ($80 million) to supply active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars for the KF-21. AESA technology allows for electronically steering the beam of radio waves in various directions.

The KF-21 jet's GE F-414 KI engine is a variant of F414-GE-400, which is co-developed General Electric & Hanwha Aerospace for KF-21, which will be manufactured jointly and assembled locally in South Korea by Hanwha Aerospace. General Electric F414-GE-400K engine is the same kind found in the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Each engine generates up to 22,000 pounds of thrust, sufficient enough to propel the aircraft to its maximum velocity while carrying its substantial payload.

Starting with the Air Force F-4 fighter jet in 1979, Hanwha Aerospace has been supplying engines for South Korea's military fighter jets, including the KF-5, KF-16, F-15K, and T-50, under overseas license production. The F414 engine mounted on the KF-21 is also produced at Changwon Plant 1 using a license from GE Aerospace.