South Korea unveils new UAV engines

Hanwha Aerospace is developing a 5,500 lbf turbo fan engine for the high-performance Low Observable Wingman UAV System (LOWUS). (Hanwha Aerospace)

The South Korean government has unveiled two engines under development for the country's indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programmes.

On 7 July, the country's Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) and its Agency for Defense Development (ADD) revealed a prototype of a 5,500 lbf-class turbofan engine intended to power collaborative combat aircraft (CCA).

The agencies also unveiled a prototype of a 1,400 hp-class turboprop engine intended for next-generation unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. Janes previously reported that the powerplant is being developed for South Korea's Medium Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MUAV) Block II and future medium-altitude UAVs.

Both engines are being developed by domestic companies led by Hanwha Aerospace. Assembly has been completed and the engines are set to enter ground testing, DAPA said.

DAPA and ADD began the development of the 5,500 lbf-class turbofan in 2019 and launched development of the 1,400 hp-class turboprop in 2021.

According to DAPA, restrictions on engine technology transfers under regimes such as the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and the Export Administration Regulations prompted South Korea to launch domestic development.

The programmes are intended to secure core engine technologies, including heat-resistant materials and turbine blades capable of operating in high-temperature, high-pressure environments.

DAPA added that domestic precision-casting technologies are being employed to manufacture engine components, alongside the development and application of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs).

With the TBCs, DAPA aims to reduce heat transfer to components such as turbine blades, extending service life and enabling higher operating temperatures to improve thermal efficiency.