 |
| ▲ This file photo, taken March 19, 2025, shows CH-47 helicopters taking part in South Korea-U.S. combined drills in Incheon, west of Seoul. (Yonhap) |
Hanwha Aerospace-US MRO cooperation
Hanwha Aerospace positioned to lead S. Korea-U.S. helicopter MRO project: company official
By Chang Dong-woo
SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- Hanwha Aerospace Co. is well positioned to lead maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations for the U.S. Army's CH-47 Chinook helicopter engines under a new South Korea-U.S. defense cooperation pilot project, a company official said Tuesday
Earlier in the day, South Korea's defense ministry announced that the two countries have agreed to launch a pilot MRO program for engines used in CH-47 helicopters operated by the U.S. Army, under Washington's Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF) initiative.
The CH-47 engine project represents the first aircraft-related MRO collaboration between the allies under the RSF initiative, which aims to bolster regional military readiness through sustainment partnerships with allies.
A Hanwha Aerospace official said that while no formal contract has been signed on the corporate level, the company is currently the only firm in South Korea with the experience and technical capability to perform MRO services for the T55 engine.
"With this RSF designation, MRO for the T55 engine used in U.S.-operated CH-47 helicopters in the Indo-Pacific will be carried out in South Korea," the official said. "While no contract has yet been concluded at the corporate level, Hanwha Aerospace is effectively the only company in the country with both the capability and experience to handle the work."
The official noted that Hanwha Aerospace has serviced more than 5,700 aircraft engines over the past 46 years, including the T55 engine used in CH-47 helicopters.
The company's plant in Changwon, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, holds multiple international certifications, including one from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the official added.
"As South Korea's sole specialized aircraft engine company, Hanwha Aerospace will not only actively contribute to strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance based on 46 years of technical expertise, but also work to secure future growth by expanding into the global MRO business," the official said.
Defense officials from both countries will make a three-day visit to South Korean defense firms this week to explore additional opportunities for cooperation, beyond the pilot project and ongoing MRO services in naval shipbuilding.
(END)
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
