Doosan Enerbility, KAI to cooperate on aero engine localization

South Korea's Doosan Enerbility Co. and Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) said on Tuesday that the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate on aero engine localization.

Doosan Energy will develop the engine technology and KAI will build the systems of aircraft bodies. 

The two companies plan to participate in the South Korean government's localization project for aircraft engines. 

Only a handful of countries have their aero engine tech, including the US, the UK, France, and Russia.  

The South Korean government is expected to decide on a specific plan and method for developing engines by the first half of next year.

Doosan Enerbility and KAI aim to develop a 10,000 pound force (lbf) autonomous aircraft engine and a 15,000 lbf manned and unmanned aero engine by 2030. These are engines sized for fighter jets.

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim at khk@hankyung.com