Hanwha Unveils First K-Aero Engine Prototype in the UK

Participation in the Farnborough Airshow from 22nd to 26th
First Public Display of Reader's Aircraft Engine Model

A panoramic photo of the Hanwha integrated exhibition hall participating in the 'Farnborough Airshow' held from the 22nd to the 26th (local time) at Farnborough Airport, UK. Photo by Hanwha Aerospace

Hanwha will showcase South Korea's aerospace technology at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK, one of the world's top three airshows. The company will unveil the prototype of its independently developed 'advanced aircraft engine' for the first time and aggressively target the global market with the Korean launch vehicle 'Nuriho', AESA radar, and small SAR satellites.

Hanwha announced on the 22nd that it will participate in the Farnborough Airshow held from the 22nd to the 26th at Farnborough Airport near London, UK.

Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems have prepared a 198㎡ (approximately 60 pyeong) integrated exhibition hall, operating an Air Zone showcasing the group's integrated aerospace business capabilities and a Space Zone presenting comprehensive space solutions such as 'launch vehicles-observation satellites-satellite communication services.'

In the 'Air Zone', Hanwha Aerospace will exhibit the prototype of the 'advanced aircraft engine' independently developed in collaboration with the government for the first time. The advanced aircraft engine is being developed with a target thrust of over 15,000 pounds-force (lbf) to be mounted on the KF-21 fighter jet and unmanned combat aerial vehicles.

Hanwha Systems will also showcase the AESA radar, which it successfully developed domestically and signed an export contract with the global defense company Leonardo in May. The company plans to actively target the global market by offering various AESA radars tailored to the characteristics of light attack aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and small aircraft.

Additionally, Hanwha will introduce its integrated aerospace business capabilities accumulated over 40 years, including advanced avionics for aircraft survivability, energy storage systems (ESS) as core components of eco-friendly aircraft, hydrogen fuel cells, and electric actuators (EMA).

In the 'Space Zone', Hanwha Systems will present a 'small SAR satellite', the first domestically produced, to observe battlefield situations, and a 'hyper-connected defense solution' that shares and responds to real-time battlefield information using the Eutelsat OneWeb satellite invested in 2021.

In particular, the exhibition will reveal clear images captured by the SAR satellite of various global locations such as Mokpo Port in South Korea, Central Park and Yankee Stadium in the United States, Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, and the Gulf of Aden in Africa, demonstrating satellite observation capabilities.

A model of the Korean launch vehicle 'Nuriho', for which Hanwha Aerospace is responsible for system integration, will also be displayed. Emphasizing the completion of performance verification through consecutive successful launches in 2022 and 2023, the company plans to recruit satellite customers and expand launch services not only for domestic private satellites but also for overseas satellites.

A Hanwha official said, "As a leading aerospace company representing South Korea, we will actively promote our country's technological capabilities on the global stage and expand opportunities for global business cooperation."