Kratos completed altitude testing of its GEK800 engine on Oct 31 2025, marking a key milestone toward production readiness. The test involved more than 50 engine starts in the GE Aerospace ground test facility and validated durability, rotor speed limits, and compressive system boundaries at high altitudes.
The GEK800 is an 800‑lb thrust‑class jet engine designed for unmanned aerial systems, collaborative combat aircraft, and missiles. The test was conducted in partnership with GE Aerospace, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and Purdue University’s Zucrow Laboratories, and follows a formal teaming agreement signed in June 2025 that expands on a 2024 memorandum of understanding.
The milestone positions Kratos to offer a cost‑effective propulsion solution that can be rapidly scaled to meet defense demand. The engine development aligns with the U.S. Department of Defense’s push for autonomous and collaborative combat capabilities, and the partnership with GE Aerospace brings high‑rate production expertise to the program.
Kratos has a long history of developing small engines for unmanned platforms, and the GEK800 program is part of a broader family that includes the GEK1500. The company reported Q4 2023 revenues of $273.8 million, up from $249.3 million in Q4 2022, reflecting growth in its defense and unmanned systems segments.
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