South Korea forms council to speed up development of next-generation aircraft engine

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - South Korea is accelerating efforts to develop next-generation aircraft engines.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Friday it, together with related government bodies, inaugurated a council to review development plans for advanced propulsion systems for future fighter jets and streamline cooperation across ministries.

Only a handful of countries — including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Russia — possess homegrown aircraft engine technology. The sector requires heavy investment, long development timelines and strict regulatory oversight, making it one of the most strategically sensitive areas in defense manufacturing.

Officials say domestic development could significantly cut maintenance costs currently paid to overseas suppliers and strengthen the export competitiveness of Korean-built fighter aircraft. In January, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) set out a preliminary roadmap for the program, outlining priorities such as workforce training and the establishment of core infrastructure.

The newly formed council will work to avoid budget duplication among agencies and will hold regular discussions on major R&D challenges.

Lee Sun-hye, a senior official at the trade ministry, said technological self-reliance and supply-chain stability were essential for the program’s success. Choi Seung-wook of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stressed that securing proper certification would be crucial for both domestic deployment and overseas sales.

* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.

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