Kratos has unveiled a small affordable engine intended for the US Air Force’s futuristic Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
Developed in partnership with GE Aerospace, the GEK800 can reportedly generate up to 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms) of thrust, making it “ideally suited” for cruise missiles.
But the two companies said it could still be scaled up to meet the requirements of the CCA program.
“It is a scalable architecture,” GE Aerospace President Amy Gowder said. “As we see the requirements firm up, we’ll decide how high to scale or not. Certainly, there’s a lot of requirements that have not been disclosed on CCA due to the classified nature.”
Kratos disclosed that additional GEK800 development efforts are now complete and the engine is now undergoing a series of tests.
A Low-Cost Solution
Though the exact price was not disclosed, Gowder claimed that the product will address defense customers’ growing interest in low-cost engine solutions to meet their evolving mission requirements.
It could help meet global demands, as the GEK800 can also power drones and loitering munitions, which are relevant in modern warfare.
Kratos CEO Eric DeMarco said the engine is “just about ready to go” and they have already communicated with potential customers.
“We understand what the first platforms will be, what the first systems will be, and we understand the competitive landscape from pricing and performance,” he said.
The engine is slated for altitude testing next year.
