01 July 2021

Kratos completes testing on affordable turbine engine for missiles, UAVs

by Richard Scott

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has revealed completion of a core engine test campaign supporting development of an affordable powerplant for future munitions and attritable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Announcing the milestone on 28 June the company said that its Kratos Turbine Technologies (KTT) division had “successfully demonstrated key performance and operability targets of the core engine” in conjunction with the Turbine Engine Division of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RQT).

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has completed a test campaign for a new affordable turbine engine for missile and UAV applications. (Kratos )

In January Kratos had disclosed that KTT had received a USD12.7 million task order from ARFL/RQT under its Advanced Turbine Technologies for Affordable Mission (ATTAM) indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract. According to the company, this new task order funded activity to complete development of a 200 lb thrust-class affordable turbojet engine, designed for use in future low-cost cruise missiles and attritable UAVs.

ATTAM is a capability-based planning and execution development construct to advance state-of-the-art in turbine engine technology for the US Air Force. Key goals include increased fuel efficiency, propulsive capability, and increased power and thermal management, together with development and demonstration of advanced components in Technology Readiness Level 6 demonstrator engines.

In its January 2021 announcement, Kratos said that design and testing of the new turbojet had been completed in under 18 months. Test activity, undertaken at a recently commissioned engine-test facility in Indiantown, Florida, included characterisation of the engine, from ignition to overspeed conditions, testing of engine performance including thrust, fuel efficiency and electrical power output, and evaluation of engine durability.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has revealed completion of a core engine test campaign supportin...

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