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South Korea and U.S. Launch Pilot MRO Project for Chinook Engines

The agreement tasks Hanwha Aerospace’s Changwon plant with in-country T55 engine overhauls to deepen South Korea-U.S. defense logistics cooperation.

This March 20, 2024, file photo shows a CH-47 Chinook helicopter taking part in South Korea-U.S. combined drills in the border county of Yeoncheon. (Yonhap)
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)
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Overview

  • South Korea’s defense ministry and the U.S. Department of Defense agreed today to launch a pilot maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) program for the CH-47 Chinook’s T55 engine under the Regional Sustainment Framework.
  • Hanwha Aerospace’s Changwon plant holds multiple international certifications, including U.S. FAA approval, and has serviced over 5,700 engines since 1979.
  • The Chinook engine project marks the first U.S. military aircraft sustainment partnership under the RSF, extending the initiative beyond its initial naval maintenance projects.
  • Although no formal corporate-level contract has been signed, U.S. and South Korean officials will conduct three-day site visits to defense firms starting July 23 to explore further MRO collaborations.
  • The pilot project aims to boost combined combat readiness and expand regional logistics hubs by incorporating Korean firms into Indo-Pacific sustainment operations.