Honeywell has gained a prototype contract from the United States Air Force to design a propulsion system for an autonomous aircraft, based on its SkyShot 1600 small-thrust-class engine.

The SkyShot 1600 is intended for collaborative combat aircraft. Its flexible architecture allows it to operate as either a turbojet or turbofan and to be adapted for different mission profiles.

The award was issued as an Other Transaction Authority Project Agreement by SOSSEC, Inc. in support of the Air Force’s Propulsion Directorate under the Propulsion Consortium Initiative 2.0. The agreement sits between the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and SOSSEC.

“We’ve combined decades of proven technologies with the latest advancements to create an engine that can keep pace with cost, speed and performance demands of next-generation platforms. We look forward to supporting the U.S. Air Force in the next phase of collaborative combat aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems propulsion efforts.” says Dave Marinick, president, Engines and Power Systems, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies.

The SkyShot 1600 supports thrust levels from 800 to 2,800 pounds. It can be configured as a turbojet or turbofan and scaled for additional thrust. The engine is designed to meet demanding G-level requirements to support manoeuvring targets.

Honeywell says it is using advanced digital modelling and manufacturing techniques to speed design, evaluate performance and improve integration with air vehicle systems. These methods are also intended to reduce production timelines and strengthen supply chain resilience.