South Korea’s largest defence company is developing a fighter jet engine as the country works to move up the arms exporter value chain and boost its security self-sufficiency.
The chief of aero systems at Hanwha Aerospace said the company wanted to develop the engine by as early as 2036. It is working in partnership with the South Korean government, one of the world’s highest spenders on arms development.
“We should develop our own aircraft engines before it is too late for our long-term national security, as well as for economic benefits,” said Kwangmin Lee in an interview with the Financial Times at the company’s headquarters in Seoul.