GE Aerospace and Kratos’ GEK800 engine wins US contract

GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions announced that the GEK800 engine, which received the U.S. Military Engine Type Designation F143-ZZ-100, has been awarded a contract with the United States Air Force for the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) of the turbofan as a second-source propulsion system for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). The designation and contract mark advancement of the program designed to provide small, low-cost, high-performance engines for use in cruise missiles, collaborative combat-type aircraft, and other uncrewed aerial vehicles. “The F143 designation and EMD award are a testament to the strong performance and capability of the GEK800 engine and the strength of our partnership with Kratos. This reflects years of disciplined engineering to deliver propulsion systems that meet the evolving, mission-critical requirements of our military customers,” said Amy Gowder, President and CEO of GE Aerospace Defense & Systems. “Kratos has been working with our outstanding partner GE Aerospace and the United States Air Force to support the Department of War in reindustrialising U.S. manufacturing capacity and capability in the area of low cost, rapidly manufacturable, in large quantities, jet engines for drones, cruise missiles, and other systems. The DoW is providing industry clear demand signals, including multi-year contractual framework agreements for missile systems, and both Kratos and GE Aerospace have responded, including making significant investments with our government partners, to support U.S. National Security priorities,” said Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos. The GEK800, now designated the F143, is an 800-lb thrust turbofan engine designed to power long-range missiles and other uncrewed applications.  With a combination of internal investment plus support and funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Kratos and GE Aerospace began working together in 2023 to complete a Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) phase including testing of the engine. The joint team has completed more than 50 engine starts in ground testing at Kratos and GE Aerospace testing facilities, and in 2025 successfully completed altitude testing at Purdue University’s Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]