Drone Failures Push South Korea to Seek Turkish PD170 Engines for Military UAVs
After a series of failed military drone tests, including a jet-powered UAV that crashed immediately after takeoff at a defense expo, South Korea’s defense agency has approached Turkish engine-maker TEI about buying PD170 drone engines used in combat-proven Bayraktar systems.
South Korea is looking to Turkish-made engines to keep its military drone ambitions on track after a string of high-profile test failures.
According to reporting on the talks, South Korea’s defense acquisition agency has approached Türkiye’s TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI) about buying PD170 engines for its unmanned aerial vehicles. The PD170 powers several of Türkiye’s Bayraktar drones, which have seen extensive operational use and export success.
The outreach comes after a jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) crashed immediately after takeoff at a defense drone exposition on 16 September. The incident unfolded in front of industry guests and foreign delegations.
In August, South Korea’s navy saw two loitering “kamikaze” drones launched from the amphibious ship Marado both plunge into the sea within seconds of launch. Together, the failures have raised questions about the reliability of South Korean-built military drones at a time when unmanned systems have become central to modern warfare.
The PD170 is a turbo-diesel engine designed for medium-altitude, long-endurance UAVs. By turning to TEI for this key component, Seoul is signalling that it may need foreign propulsion technology to accelerate its drone programmes while it works through domestic design problems.
For South Korea, the stakes are strategic and industrial. Effective military drones are expected to play a growing role in surveillance and strike missions around the Korean Peninsula and in the wider region. Persistent test failures could slow those plans and complicate South Korea’s broader goal of being a leading defence exporter.
For Türkiye, interest from a technologically advanced US ally underscores how far its defence sector has advanced in UAV and engine development. A PD170 deal would expand Ankara’s customer base and deepen its industrial ties with Seoul.
Signals to watch include any official confirmation of a purchase agreement with TEI, references to foreign engines in future South Korean UAV specifications, and whether upcoming tests show improved performance or further setbacks.
Sources
- OSINT