Korean Air and Doosan Enerbility Join Forces to Develop Aircraft Engines and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Korean Air to Lead Aircraft System Development
Doosan Enerbility to Oversee Aircraft Engine Development

Korean Air is promoting technological cooperation with Doosan Enerbility to develop domestic aircraft engine technology and expand its unmanned aerial vehicle business.

Kim Kyung-nam, Head of Korea Air Aerospace Technology Research Institute (left), and Go Min-seok, GT Development Manager at Doosan Enerbility, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 16th for cooperation in aircraft engine development and unmanned aerial vehicle development, and are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Korea Air

On the 16th, Korean Air announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation in aircraft engine development and unmanned vehicle development at Doosan Enerbility's headquarters in Changwon. The signing ceremony was attended by key officials from both companies, including Kim Kyung-nam, head of Korean Air's Aircraft Technology Research Institute, and Go Min-seok, head of GT development at Doosan Enerbility.

Under this agreement, Korean Air will be responsible for aircraft system development, while Doosan Enerbility will handle aircraft engine development, continuing joint research and technology exchange. In particular, the two companies plan to focus on developing engines in the 5,000 to 15,000 lbf (pound-force, the force capable of lifting 16,000 pounds) class for medium to large unmanned aerial vehicles such as low-observable formation aircraft and multipurpose stealth UAVs, as well as engines in the 100 to 1,000 lbf class for small unmanned aerial vehicles like consumable cooperative combat aircraft (CCA).

Korean Air aims to realize the localization of advanced aircraft engine development and establish a competitive unmanned aerial vehicle system. The localization of advanced aircraft engines is considered an essential task for the growth of domestic aircraft business technology. As countries with the capability to produce engines themselves, such as the United States, strictly limit technology exports, the importance of early localization of aircraft engines is increasing.

Kim Kyung-nam, head of Korean Air's Aircraft Technology Research Institute, said, "The gas turbine engine market for aircraft has long been dominated by a few advanced countries, and engine localization is essential to strengthen the international competitiveness of domestic aircraft." He added, "Taking this cooperation as an opportunity, we will further enhance our aircraft development capabilities and continue close cooperation with domestic engine developers, including Doosan Enerbility."