3.35 Trillion Won Bet: Seoul to Build New Fighter Jet Engine
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA- has become the center of South Korea鈥檚 latest push for defense self-reliance as the government formally launches a large-scale fighter jet engine development program. The initiative is led by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and is supported by a new interagency council bringing together multiple ministries.
The project is based in Seoul, where policy coordination will take place across defense, industry, and aviation authorities, alongside major aerospace stakeholders such as from the wider aviation ecosystem. The program carries a total planned investment of 3.35 trillion.
South Korea Plans Fighter Jet Engine
South Korea鈥檚 Defense Acquisition Program Administration plans to convene the first pan-government council meeting later this month.
Officials from the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea AeroSpace Administration, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport are expected to attend.
The council will review core development procedures, including technical planning, certification pathways, and coordination mechanisms. Its creation directly addresses long-standing industry concerns over inter-ministerial fragmentation that previously delayed major aerospace and defense programs.
By establishing an integrated decision-making body from the outset, authorities aim to ensure policy consistency and avoid disputes that have affected past satellite and helicopter development efforts.
Engine Development Scope
At the heart of the roadmap is the development of a 16,000-pound-force class fighter engine intended for the KF-21 next-generation combat aircraft. The engine is designed to reduce specific fuel consumption by 15 percent compared with the imported General Electric F414 engine currently powering the platform.
The target is to complete development in time for integration into the KF-21 Block 3 configuration, which is expected to enter service around 2040. Officials describe the program as critical to improving performance, operational independence, and long-term cost efficiency.
Hanwha Aerospace and Doosan Enerbility have entered the project as key industrial participants. Their involvement reflects a broader strategy to strengthen South Korea鈥檚 domestic aerospace manufacturing base.
Strategic And Export Impact
South Korea鈥檚 current fighter aircraft, including the KF-21 and FA-50, rely on foreign-made engines, primarily from the United States, reports .
This dependence imposes export restrictions and requires external approval for overseas sales, limiting flexibility in global defense markets.
Maintenance constraints also pose challenges, as certain engine types must be shipped abroad for repairs, grounding aircraft for extended periods. A domestically developed engine would reduce these vulnerabilities and improve fleet readiness.
Officials also see long-term spillover benefits beyond defense, including potential applications in commercial aviation propulsion technologies.
Early funding for next year includes 8.6 billion won earmarked for advanced component research, covering systems such as combustors, turbines, compressors, and afterburners.
Bottom Line
South Korea鈥檚 3.35 trillion won fighter engine program represents a decisive move toward aerospace and defense independence.
With interagency coordination in place and funding reflected in upcoming budgets, the project is positioned to reshape the nation鈥檚 military aviation capabilities and export prospects over the next two decades.