Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and GE Aerospace announced that the GEK800 engine, a lightweight 800‑pound thrust class powerplant for unmanned aerial systems and collaborative combat aircraft, successfully completed altitude testing on Friday, October 31, 2025.
The test was conducted at Purdue University’s Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories, utilizing the newly expanded ZL9 test facility. The campaign, which began in late September, included more than 50 engine starts and validated the GEK800’s performance at the high‑altitude pressures and temperatures expected in operational flight envelopes.
The GEK800 is the result of a formal teaming agreement signed in June 2025, building on a memorandum of understanding from 2023. The collaboration combines Kratos’ expertise in small unmanned engines with GE Aerospace’s propulsion technology and production capabilities. The program is supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Office of Naval Research, underscoring government interest in the technology.
With the altitude test milestone achieved, the GEK800 moves closer to certification and commercial deployment. GE Aerospace and Kratos anticipate beginning limited production in 2026, targeting the rapidly expanding UAS market projected to reach $555 billion by 2034.
The joint effort positions both companies to capture a share of the growing unmanned and collaborative combat aircraft segments, offering a cost‑effective, high‑efficiency engine that aligns with defense modernization priorities and the industry’s shift toward specialized propulsion systems for unmanned platforms.
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