Kratos and General Electric formalise deal to build future UAV engines

The Kratos GEK800 to be followed by the GEK1500. (Kratos)

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) builder Kratos and engine manufacturer General Electric (GE) signed an agreement to build engines for “the next generation of affordable unmanned aerial systems and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)-type aircraft”, according to a 3 June announcement by Kratos. The contract formalises a memorandum of understanding (MOU) announced in 2024.

The contract covers design and manufacture of two engines, the GEK800 and GEK1500, intended to generate 800 lb (3.55 kN) and 1,500 lb (3.67 kN) of thrust respectively. Kratos has produced at least one GEK800 prototype, which underwent simulated high-altitude testing at GE's engine test facility in Evendale, Ohio.

“We're thrilled to continue our collaboration with Kratos and accelerate development across various classes of unmanned systems,” said Amy Gowder, president for Defense and Systems at GE Aerospace.

Kratos declined to specify whether the engines were intended to power a specific UAV design. The company is not participating in the ongoing US Air Force (USAF) CCA contest, which was in April 2024 downselected to the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) YFQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A, but is likely to submit a design for CCA Increment 2, which is currently in the definition phase. Neither current CCA competitor has disclosed which engine powers their UAVs, but they are likely larger than the GEK series.

Kratos told Janes on 4 June that its goal is to produce GEK-series engines for “somewhere in the range of roughly USD200,000 per unit”.

Kratos is best known for building the XQ-58A Valkyrie, which is powered by a Williams FJ33 engine that puts out 2,000 lb of thrust.

For more information, please seeKratos and GE Aerospace upgrade partnership to produce small engines for drones .