Korea Aerospace Industries, Hanwha Aerospace to Jointly Develop Drones, Aircraft Engines

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Aerospace have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on exports, joint development and ecosystem building across defense, aerospace and space sectors.

Under the MOU, the two firms will cooperate on the domestic development of aircraft engines, joint development and marketing of drones, entry into global commercial space markets and the expansion of defense and aerospace supply chains. The partnership is structured as a mid- to long-term arrangement covering future core business areas.

The companies also agreed to formalize a Future Aerospace Strategy Committee, made up of senior executives from both sides, to coordinate cooperation plans and align long-term strategies. The initiative includes efforts to identify and support small and medium-sized suppliers, startups and venture firms, particularly in South Korea’s Gyeongnam region, in line with the government’s regional development policy.

KAI and Hanwha Aerospace plan to jointly develop and export drones and aircraft engines, with the aim of matching engine designs to domestic aircraft platforms. KAI is also pursuing its Next-Generation Air Combat System concept, which links manned aircraft, unmanned platforms and satellites.

In the space sector, the partners plan to cooperate across satellites, launch vehicles and related services, while defining separate focus areas to limit internal competition and pursue shared commercial opportunities.