Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., a Technology Company in the Defense, National Security and Global Markets, and GE Aerospace announced that they have started altitude testing on its GEK800 small engine designed to power the next generation of affordable unmanned aerial systems and CCA-type aircraft. The testing began today at an altitude test facility at Purdue University’s Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories.

“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 has been designed and engineered up front, from conception, to be manufactured in large quantities at a low cost.”

“The GEK800 engine has performed well and exceeded our expectations in its ground testing to date,” said Mark Rettig, Vice President of Edison Works Advanced Programs 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.”

“We are thrilled that the propulsion test infrastructure of our new lab created the opportunity to test the new GEK800 engine,” said Scott Meyer, Managing Director of Zucrow Laboratories. “The cooperation and comradery between the GE and Kratos teams, and our students and staff at Zucrow Labs, has been amazingly productive and a pleasure to be a part of. We are excited to have a role in the development of this critical new capability for our nation.”

The GEK800 is an 800-lb jet engine that could potentially power unmanned aerial systems (UAS), collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs), and missiles. Initially developed and ground tested by Kratos over the course of a decade, Kratos and GE Aerospace began working together in 2023 to complete additional development efforts and testing on the engine 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 newly expanded ZL9 test facility at Zucrow Labs.

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

In June, Kratos and GE Aerospace 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.

Kratos brings more than 25 years of experience developing and producing small, affordable engines for UAS, drones, and missile platforms. 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.