Hanwha Aero "Urgent Need to Establish Domestic Ecosystem for 100% Imported Aircraft Engine Materials"

The Korean Institute of Metals and Materials '2023 Fall Symposium'

Concerns have been raised that a 'collaborative ecosystem' must be established to domesticize aircraft engine materials, which are currently fully imported.

On the 26th, An Jong-gi, Director of the Aerospace Materials Research Center at Hanwha Aerospace, gave a presentation titled "Direction of Domesticating Materials for Aircraft Gas Turbine Engines" at the '2023 Fall Symposium of the Korean Institute of Metals and Materials' held at the Daegu Convention Center.

At the event, Director An emphasized, "Korea imports 100% of aircraft engine materials," adding, "To respond to uncertainties for autonomous defense such as geopolitical crises in the Middle East and Europe, and missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) restrictions on unmanned combat aerial vehicles, we must start with domesticating materials and components."

He also stated, "It is necessary to establish a certification and evaluation technology system centered on the public and private sectors to guarantee the reliability of domestically produced materials." Currently, there are no development cases applying an approval system for Inconel-series superalloys used as aircraft engine material components. The development and certification process of Inconel 718 material, being conducted through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's technology development project, could serve as a good precedent for domesticating advanced aircraft engine materials.

Director An also expressed the need to build a collaborative ecosystem involving Hanwha Aerospace, the only domestic aircraft engine company, domestic specialized material companies, and government-funded research institutes and university experts possessing core material technologies to ensure aircraft engine reliability.

Advanced engine materials, including Inconel 718, a special alloy most commonly used in aircraft engines, must simultaneously possess strong durability to withstand extreme environments of ultra-high temperature, ultra-high pressure, and ultra-high speed during aircraft operation, as well as lightness for maneuverability.

Lee Kwang-min, Head of the Aerospace Division at Hanwha Aerospace, said, "Collaboration among the government, industry, academia, and research institutes is essential for material domesticization," adding, "Hanwha Aerospace will also strengthen its engine development capabilities to leap forward as a global military engine OEM company and enter the civil aircraft engine market."

Hanwha Aerospace, which has been producing aircraft engines for 40 years, was selected in September this year as the preferred negotiation candidate for the development project of 'TIT 1800K-class turbofan aircraft engine low-pressure turbine heat-resistant alloy coating technology,' led by the Defense Technology Promotion Research Institute.

At the 2023 Fall Conference of the Korean Institute of Metals and Materials held on the 26th at the Daegu Convention Center, participants including Kwangmin Lee, Head of Hanwha Aerospace's Aviation Business Division (sixth from the left), are taking a group commemorative photo. Photo by Hanwha Aerospace

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