GE and Kratos Expand Partnership on Engine Development

GE and Kratos Expand Partnership on Engine Development

Advancing Affordable Turbofan Engines for Uncrewed Aircraft

GE Aerospace and Kratos Turbine Technologies have announced an expansion of their collaboration to develop small, cost-effective turbofan engines designed to power reusable uncrewed aircraft. The new project, unveiled on June 2 in Evandale, Ohio, focuses on the creation of the GEK1500, a 1,500-pound-thrust engine slated for prototype demonstration next year. Steve Russell, general manager of GE’s Edison Works, highlighted the significance of this development in meeting the growing demand for affordable propulsion solutions in the uncrewed systems market.

The GEK1500 engine is intended to compete in the rapidly evolving sector of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) and other reusable uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). Building on an affordable propulsion architecture initially developed by Kratos and subsequently co-developed with GE, the engine aims to deliver enhanced performance while maintaining cost efficiency. Stacey Rock, president of Kratos Turbine Technologies, emphasized that the GEK1500 is designed to surpass current expendable turbojets in both affordability and operational capability. Speaking at a joint media event at GE’s headquarters, Rock noted, “Everyone wanted an affordable engine, but also wanted performance that is better than the state of the art.”

Building on a Decade of Collaboration and Military Demand

This expanded partnership follows a two-year joint effort to develop the smaller GEK800 engine, which targets expendable platforms such as cruise missiles. The collaboration traces its origins to a decade ago when Kratos received funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Advanced Turbine Technologies for Affordable Mission Capability program. After successfully developing the 650-pound-thrust KTT650 engine, Kratos partnered with GE in 2023 to scale the technology to the 800-pound-thrust GEK800.

The U.S. military’s increasing interest in affordable propulsion for next-generation cruise missiles and uncrewed systems has been a key driver behind these developments. Potential applications include a range of programs such as the Stand-off Attack Missile, Enterprise Test Vehicle, Franklin, Extended Range Attack Munition, Multi-Mission Affordable Capacity Effector, and Coalition Affordable Maritime Strike weapon.

GE is preparing to commence testing later this month on Build 5 of the Technology Maturation version of the GEK800. According to Russell, production components are already in fabrication, with assembly expected to conclude by December or January. The Build 5 engine, recently showcased to journalists, measures approximately 36 inches in length with a 12-inch diameter fan and weighs over 100 pounds but remains under several hundred pounds.

Challenges and Market Implications

As GE and Kratos advance their engine development efforts, they face several technical and regulatory challenges. Integrating new propulsion technologies into platforms such as the XQ-58 Valkyrie requires careful management of performance and cost trade-offs. Additionally, navigating regulatory frameworks will be critical as these engines progress toward operational deployment.

The partnership’s progress has garnered significant market attention, potentially attracting increased investor interest in both companies due to the promise of advanced propulsion technologies for uncrewed systems. Meanwhile, competitors in the aerospace sector are expected to intensify their own efforts to develop next-generation UAV engines, underscoring the strategic importance of this evolving market.