Breaking the GE and Rolls-Royce Monopoly... Korea Launches Localization of Core Aircraft Engine Materials

KASA to Invest 42.9 Billion Won Over Five Years
Development of Five Types of Heat-Resistant Materials and Four Core Components

The government is launching an initiative to secure core technologies for aircraft engine materials and components, a sector dominated by a few companies such as the United States' GE and Pratt & Whitney (P&W), the United Kingdom's Rolls-Royce, and France's Safran.

The Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) announced on June 17 that it had held a kick-off meeting for the project titled "Development of High-Strength Materials and Components for Aircraft Gas Turbine Engine Structures" and had officially begun research and development.

Reference photo to aid understanding of the article. Hanwha Aerospace engineers are inspecting an aircraft engine. Photo by The Asia Business Daily database

A total of 42.9 billion won (including 29.7 billion won in government funding) will be invested in this project over the next five years. The goal is to develop five types of lightweight, heat-resistant materials and four types of core components.

Aircraft engines are regarded as a key system determining the performance and safety of aircraft. In particular, materials used in engines must withstand high-temperature and high-pressure environments, as well as meet strict certification standards, making it a field with extremely high entry barriers.

In reality, only a handful of countries—such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France—possess the technological framework for aircraft engine materials and components. Domestic companies have so far had limited opportunities to accumulate related technologies due to a structure focused on importing engines, resulting in ongoing reliance on expensive imported components.

Securing Full-Cycle Capabilities from Material Design to Certification

This project brings together 20 organizations, including nine material companies and 11 universities and research institutes, centered on companies developing aircraft engine systems.

The researchers plan to advance the development of forged lightweight materials, high-strength materials, super heat-resistant materials, and precision casting technologies.

KASA aims to go beyond simple localization of materials and secure a full-cycle technological framework encompassing material design, manufacturing, testing and evaluation, data accumulation, and product application. Through this, the agency plans to lay the groundwork for independent aircraft engine development in the future and enhance the added value and technological competitiveness of the domestic aviation industry.

KASA Administrator Tae seog Oh stated, "Aircraft engines are a core sector that determines the competitiveness of the national aviation industry," adding, "The materials and components technologies supporting this are the starting point for independent engine development and for creating industrial added value."

Taking this project as an opportunity, KASA intends to expand research and development in the field of aerospace materials and components, and gradually secure independent capabilities for aircraft engine development.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.