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South Korea Sought Turkish Drone Engines After Crashes

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration contacted Türkiye for the PD170 engine following recent drone failures.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Terrorism

Isometric editorial illustration of a modular turbodiesel engine component, representing international defense procurement and aerospace engineering technology.
South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration has initiated talks with Turkish Aerospace Industries to acquire PD170 turbodiesel engines for its military drone fleet. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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South Korea's defense officials have inquired about purchasing the PD170 turbodiesel engine from Turkish Aerospace Industries. The request follows a series of public drone crash failures that occurred during military demonstrations in August and September 2026.

Why it matters

The search for reliable foreign propulsion technology comes as South Korea faces scrutiny over its domestic military drone programs. Reliable engines are essential for maintaining the operational capability of advanced reconnaissance and strike platforms.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration submitted the inquiry for the 170-horsepower engine following two kamikaze drone crashes off the ROKS Marado on August 25 and an exhibition failure on September 16.

The players

Defense Acquisition Program Administration

This is the South Korean government agency responsible for procuring military equipment and managing defense industry acquisitions.

Turkish Aerospace Industries

This is the primary state-owned aerospace and defense company in Türkiye that designs and manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles and propulsion systems.

Korea Aerospace Industries

This is the major South Korean aerospace manufacturer that produces both fixed-wing aircraft and specialized drone systems for the military.

The details

The PD170 engine, developed by a TAI subsidiary, currently powers major platforms including the Anka, Aksungur, and Bayraktar drones. South Korean engineers are looking to stabilize their drone fleet performance after recent incidents in which experimental drones crashed during test flights.

Timeline

  1. August 25, 2026: Two kamikaze drones crashed into the sea after launching from the ROKS Marado.

  2. September 16, 2026: A Korea Aerospace Industries jet-powered drone crashed during an exhibition.

  3. September 27, 2026: Yonhap reported that South Korea made a formal inquiry for Turkish engine technology.

Roadmap

This inquiry follows the established growth pattern of Türkiye as a major global defense exporter, which reached over $10 billion in total exports last year. As nations seek combat-proven hardware, Turkish engines are increasingly being evaluated as reliable alternatives to domestic designs.

The string of recent drone crashes has raised concerns regarding the reliability and safety of current military flight demonstrations. Authorities are now focusing on upgrading critical components to prevent future failures during high-profile exhibitions and training exercises.

The takeaway

Reliable propulsion systems are the backbone of modern autonomous defense technology. Securing high-performance engines from proven suppliers is a common strategy for nations looking to modernize their air assets rapidly.

Further reading

For more information on the evolving military drone landscape, visit the Terrorism section.

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