Hanwha unveils 'One Sky' paradigm for future aero-engine development

On the 27th, Hanwha Aerospace presented the "One Sky" aero-engine development paradigm, designed for the integrated operation of manned and unmanned aircraft, at the "Gas Turbine Symposium 2026" held in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province.

Future battlefields will feature a mix of traditional high-performance weapon systems (such as fighter jets and expensive missiles) and new systems that prioritize cost-effectiveness and exchange ratios (such as unmanned aerial vehicles and drones). Hanwha's vision is to create a virtuous cycle: leveraging "Legacy Excellence", the technology and experience gained from traditional aero-engine operations, to develop engines for the "New Sky" era, and then applying the resulting new technologies and development methods back to enhance the competitiveness of existing engines.

The "New Sky" era... a need to secure more engines faster and at lower cost

Kim Sun, Executive Vice President at Hanwha Aerospace, delivered a special lecture at the symposium held at Sono Calm Yeosu. He stated, "To rapidly develop aero-engines that meet the demands of a rapidly changing security environment and new market needs, we must actively utilize the technological and experiential assets we have already secured."

Recent conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have seen the widespread use of relatively inexpensive UAVs and drones to neutralize high-value strategic assets like tanks and missiles. Consequently, the ability to rapidly secure large quantities of air power at a reasonable cost, alongside high-performance weapon systems, has emerged as a key factor in future warfare.

"By leveraging the technology and experience Hanwha has accumulated over the past 47 years through the development and mass production of dozens of engine models, we can develop aero-engines rapidly and economically while minimizing risk," Executive Vice President Kim explained. "It is akin to drawing up a blueprint while already knowing the correct answer." Hanwha Aerospace defines this accumulated technology and experience as a core competitive advantage under the slogan "We Know Sky."

10,000 test runs and 1,000 issues resolved... integrating cutting-edge technologies like 3D printing and AI with accumulated experience

Hanwha Aerospace possesses a track record of resolving over 1,000 issues encountered during more than 10,000 engine test runs and is currently building a database (DB) containing data on approximately 35,000 types of aerospace engine materials. The company has also secured capabilities to comprehensively manage quality, cost, and delivery schedules, leveraging a global supply chain network spanning the U.S. and Vietnam, as well as smart factory operations.

Building on these capabilities, Hanwha Aerospace unveiled prototypes last July, developed using proprietary domestic technology under a government-led initiative, of a 5,500-lbf turbofan engine for low-observable unmanned formation aircraft and a 1,400-horsepower-class turboprop engine for medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Furthermore, the company plans to actively participate in government-led aerospace engine development projects, including a 10,000-lbf turbofan engine for stealth UAVs and an "advanced aerospace engine" targeted for next-generation fighter jets, such as the KF-21.

Hanwha Aerospace also intends to minimize risks during engine development and aggressively pursue the bold adoption of innovative ideas by utilizing "En-genius," its proprietary AI model trained on decades of accumulated aerospace engine data. Executive Vice President Kim stated, "Since every engine test failure incurs costs amounting to billions of won and consumes at least several additional months, we need a development system that minimizes trial and error, and AI can play a pivotal role in this." He added, "Leveraging Hanwha's technology and experience, we will do our utmost to ensure South Korea leads the 'New Sky' era of the future aviation market."