Hanwha Aerospace has signed a new contract worth 623.2 billion won (approximately USD 459.3 million) with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to deliver engines for the country’s KF-21 fighter jet program, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The deal covers the supply of 80 General Electric F414 engines for the first mass-production batch of the KF-21, with deliveries expected by December 2028. It also includes logistics support, such as spare parts, technical documentation, and on-site maintenance services.
This latest agreement follows an earlier engine contract signed in 2024, valued at 556.2 billion won. Together, the two contracts bring the total value of Hanwha’s KF-21 engine program to around 1.18 trillion won (USD 870 million).
Hanwha Aerospace has been a longstanding supplier of jet engines for South Korea’s air force, having produced over 10,000 engines since 1979 for platforms such as the KF-5, KF-16, and F-15K. The company has also invested 40 billion won in a new smart factory to support its engine manufacturing capabilities.
The KF-21 program, launched in 2015, aims to develop an indigenous supersonic fighter to replace the Republic of Korea Air Force’s aging F-4 and F-5 aircraft. Initial deployment is targeted for 2028.
