GE Aerospace And Kratos Small Engine Testing Gains Altitude

GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. have started altitude testing on their GEK800 small engine designed to power the next generation of affordable unmanned aerial systems and CCA-type aircraft. The testing began today in the High-Speed Propulsion Laboratory (building ZL9) at Purdue University’s Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories.

“The GEK800 engine has performed well and exceeded our expectations in its ground testing to date,” said Mark Rettig, vice president & general manager of Edison Works Business & Technology Development at GE Aerospace. “During altitude testing, we will collect data on the engine’s performance in a range of altitudes to assess its operability in simulated real-world conditions.”

“Altitude testing is the next milestone in demonstrating our commitment to delivering high-performance, affordable jet engines to support our defense customers,” said Stacey Rock, president of Kratos Turbine Technologies. “Our team is uniquely positioned to bring these advanced designs into high-rate production to support the rising demand for propulsion systems for cruise missiles and CCA-type aircraft.”

The GEK800 is an 800-lb jet engine that could potentially power unmanned aerial systems (UAS), collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs), and missiles. GE Aerospace and Kratos began working together on the engine in 2023 and have completed more than 50 engine starts in ground testing at Kratos and GE Aerospace testing facilities.

The altitude testing will focus on an altitude window between 5,000-35,000 feet and is anticipated to be complete by the end of the year. GE Aerospace, Kratos, and Purdue University have been collaborating for the last few months on the engine testing, which will be the first engine to test at Purdue University’s newly expanded ZL9 test facility at Zucrow Labs.

In June, GE Aerospace and Kratos Turbine Technologies, a division of Kratos, announced the signing of a formal teaming agreement to advance propulsion technologies for the next generation of affordable unmanned aerial systems and CCA-type aircraft. This collaboration strengthens the companies’ ongoing partnership and builds on last year’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance the development and production of small, cost-effective engines for unmanned platforms. The new teaming agreement expands on that MOU and provides the framework for the two companies to develop, manufacture, test, and field the GEK800 engine, as well as collaborate on other low-cost expendable turbofan engines like the GEK1500 engine. The GEK1500 engine will be based on the architecture and learnings from the GEK800.

GE Aerospace adds a century of expertise in propulsion technology and the ability to scale advanced designs into high-rate production — helping bridge the gap from prototype to deployment. Kratos brings more than 25 years of experience developing and producing small, affordable engines for UAS, drones, and missile platforms.