Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
A glimpse inside Boeing's P-8 manufacturing plant
Assembly lines of Boeing's P-8 Poseidon aircraft are seen at the company's Renton factory in Seattle, Wash., Nov. 28 (local time). Joint Press Corps
By Lee Hyo-jin
6 Poseidon aircraft to be delivered to S. Korean Navy by June 2024
SEATLLE – On a recent Tuesday morning, in the bustling hub of Boeing's Renton factory in Seattle, Wash., engineers were seen working on various assembly lines of the P-8 Poseidon aircraft.
The 100,000 square-meter manufacturing plant is where the multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft and Boeing's commercial 737 jets are produced. The P-8 aircraft, the military derivative of the 737, shares 86 percent of components with the commercial version.
During a media tour organized by the American aerospace company, South Korean reporters were given a rare, close-up look at how the P-8A anti-submarine aircraft is manufactured.
While the Renton factory serves as the assembly point, various components are produced across the U.S. For instance, the fuselage is manufactured by Boeing's subcontractor, Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita, Kansas, before being transported to Renton by train.
At the Renton facility, workers integrate the wings, tail, engines and other components and install control systems and wiring, according to Michael Meyer, P-8 Program Manager at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“With all the modifications, including thicker skin and other structural modifications, our fuselage is about 10,000 pounds heavier than a 737 max line fuselage,” Meyer said as he showed reporters around the factory.
The assembled aircraft then proceeds to another production site in Tukwila, south of Seattle, where highly classified military systems are incorporated.
The assembly process in Renton typically takes 59 days, but is experiencing delays due to supply chain issues.
"With the supply chain issues we've had, making that 59 days has been very difficult. We're looking at about 75 days. But it's not just a Boeing problem, it's happening throughout the industry," Meyer said.
The P-8A is propelled by a pair of CFM56 turbofan engines, generating 27,000 pounds of thrust and providing all electrical power for the aircraft. With a maximum speed of 907 kilometers per hour, the aircraft boasts a maximum flight duration of 10 hours and can carry Harpoon anti-ship missiles, torpedoes and other weaponry crucial for maritime warfare.
In 2018, the South Korean military signed a deal with the U.S. government to purchase six P-8s to replace its aging P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft, under a foreign military sales (FMS) deal, or a government-to-government arms trade agreement.
Once delivered, the P-8 fleet is expected to significantly enhance the South Korean Navy's readiness against the threat of North Korea's advancing nuclear capabilities. In September, Pyongyang claimed to have launched its first operational "tactical nuclear attack submarine," as the reclusive regime strengthens its naval capabilities.
The fourth South Korean P-8A Poseidon is seen at Boeing's military delivery center in Seattle, Wash., Nov. 28 (local time). Joint Press Corps
As of November, four out of the six South Korean P-8s have been delivered to the U.S. Navy, with the remaining two to be rolled out next year, Boeing officials said.
According to South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the six aircraft will be delivered to the South Korean Navy by June 2024.
"South Korea's P-8A aircraft are being delivered from the manufacturer's facilities from March 2023. After acquiring these aircraft, our pilots and maintenance personnel will undergo training in the U.S. before bringing them to South Korea in March and June of 2024," DAPA said in a text message sent to reporters, Thursday.
Boeing's CH-47F Chinook helicopter / Courtesy of Boeing
Boeing, which has invested over 5.27 trillion won ($4 billion) in the South Korean market over the past 15 years, is exploring additional business opportunities with the Asian country. Currently, South Korea operates a wide range of Boeing defense products, including AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters and F-15K fighter jets.
During a media briefing at the company's manufacturing plant in Mesa, Ariz., Dec. 1 (local time), Boeing officials said the latest version of its CH-47 Chinook helicopter, or the CH-47ER, would be the best candidate for the South Korean Army's plan to acquire new special operations choppers.
In April this year, DAPA announced a 3.7 billion won procurement plan to obtain around 18 heavy choppers from overseas by 2031 to replace aging ones.
"The tandem rotor design allows the Chinook to dedicate 100 percent of its power to lift capability. And it also provides increased stability and controlled maximum agility, ease of loading and unloading the aircraft, capabilities that are crucial to Special Operations Forces," said Patrick Surfass, senior manager of H-47 Chinook Business Development, during the briefing.
He also stressed that the CH-47 ER can carry double the fuel load of the standard Chinook airframes