Replacement of Ukrainian AI-222: South Korea Tests Its Own Engine for Stealth Drone

In January 2026, Hanwha Aerospace will begin ground testing a new turbojet engine for the LOWUS (Low Observable Unmanned Wingman System) stealth drone being developed by Korean Air.

The new engine with a thrust of 5,500 pounds was created in cooperation with Hanwha Aerospace and the Defense Development Agency (ADD), reports Defense Blog, citing Energy Economy News.

It is to replace the Ukrainian AI-222, manufactured by Zaporizhzhia-based Ivchenko-Progress, which is currently being used as a temporary solution for flight testing of the prototype.

The AI-222 demonstrates the drone’s ability to operate in tandem with the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet at high subsonic speeds. The new Korean engine will have the same power, but will be improved.

The developers plan to complete the engine’s development before the start of mass production of the LOWUS in the mid-2030s. The prototype has already been presented at the ADEX 2025 exhibition in Seoul.

The engine development program started in 2013 with an investment of $106 million.

Hanwha Aerospace reports that the new engine will have a service life of more than 1,000 hours between overhauls.