VIVAERO

Small GEK800 engine to power unmanned aerial systems and collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs) begins altitude testing

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, a technology company specializing in the Defense, National Security, and Global markets, and GE Aerospace announced that they have begun altitude testing of their small GEK800 engine, designed to power the next generation of affordable unmanned aerial systems and collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs).

The tests began on Tuesday, September 23, at an altitude test facility at Purdue University's Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories.

"The altitude testing is the next milestone in demonstrating our commitment to providing high-performance, affordable jet engines to serve our defense customers," said Stacey Rock, President of Kratos Turbine Technologies. “Our team is uniquely positioned to bring these advanced designs to high-volume production and meet the growing demand for propulsion systems for cruise missiles and CCA-type aircraft. The GEK800 was designed and developed from the ground up to be produced in large quantities at a low cost.”

“The GEK800 engine has performed excellently and exceeded our expectations in its ground tests to date,” said Mark Rettig, Vice President of Advanced Programs at Edison Works at GE Aerospace. “During altitude testing, we will collect data on the engine’s performance at different altitudes to evaluate its operability under simulated real-world conditions.”

“We are excited that our new laboratory’s propulsion test infrastructure has created the opportunity to test the new GEK800 engine,” said Scott Meyer, CEO of Zucrow Laboratories. “The cooperation and camaraderie between the GE and Kratos teams, along with our students and employees at Zucrow Labs, has been incredibly productive and a pleasure to be a part of. We are excited to play a role in developing this critical new capability for our nation.”

The GEK800 is an 800-pound jet engine that could potentially power unmanned aerial systems (UAS), collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs), and missiles.

After initially being developed and ground-tested by Kratos over a decade, Kratos and GE Aerospace began working together in 2023 to complete additional development and testing efforts on the engine, having completed more than 50 engine starts in ground tests at Kratos and GE Aerospace test facilities.

Altitude testing will focus on an altitude window between 5,000 and 35,000 feet and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. GE Aerospace, Kratos, and Purdue University have been collaborating for several months on testing the engine, which will be the first to be tested at the newly expanded ZL9 test facility at Zucrow Laboratories.

"The collaboration between AFRL, GE Aerospace, Kratos Defense, and Purdue's Zucrow Laboratories on an extremely tight timeline is extraordinary. While the engine technology demonstration is clearly significant, the successful development of a rapid and affordable altitude test capability is a crucial element in delivering our nation's defense readiness," said Chris Rawlings, Vice President of Defense Programs at Kratos Turbine Technologies.

In June, Kratos and GE Aerospace announced the signing of a formal partnership agreement to advance propulsion technologies for the next generation of affordable unmanned aerial systems and CCA-type aircraft.

This collaboration strengthens the ongoing partnership between the companies and builds on last year's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance the development and production of small, affordable engines for unmanned platforms. The new partnership agreement expands on that MOU and provides the framework for the two companies to develop, manufacture, test, and deploy the GEK800 engine.

Kratos brings over 25 years of experience in the development and production of small, affordable engines for UAS, drones, and missile platforms. GE Aerospace adds a century of propulsion technology expertise and the ability to scale advanced designs to full-scale production, helping bridge the gap between prototype and deployment.

Information from Kratos Defense & Security Solutions