Edit: The headline and lead paragraph of this story has been updated to reflect more exact information provided by Kratos personnel.
OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – Officials with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, which has a production facility for its unmanned jet drones in Oklahoma City, announced that the company will manufacture small, affordable drone engines as part of a newly signed partnership agreement.
The defense, national security and global markets technology company announced during the Farnborough International Airshow that its Kratos Turbine Technologies division and GE Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in developing and producing small affordable engines that could potentially power unmanned aerial systems (UAS), collaborative combat aircraft and similar applications, according to Oklahoma Department of Commerce officials.
“Kratos has made significant investments in the development of our family of small, low-cost jet engines for jet powered drones, missiles, and powered munitions that lead in technology and capability,” said Eric DeMarco, President & CEO of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. “We consider our relationship with GE Aerospace as invaluable based on our expectation and forecast for the potential future production of thousands of turbofan engines for multiple customers.”
The agreement includes full-scale engine production. It will replace an existing joint development agreement once finalized.
Kratos and GE have been working together on a small, affordable engine for the past year. Kratos initially developed and ground tested the engine. The two companies finished additional development under the existing joint agreement and are currently testing the engine, Commerce officials said.
“Our defense customers have a growing interest in small affordable engines to meet their evolving mission requirements,” said Amy Gowder, president and CEO of Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace. “Our initial collaboration has been very successful, and this agreement furthers our efforts in this new dynamic military segment.”
The current engine will undergo altitude testing next year at GE Aerospace’s test cell in Evendale, Ohio.
Kratos has been developing and producing small affordable jet engines for UAS, drones and missiles for over 20 years.
GE Aerospace has more than 100 years of experience in developing and up-scaling of high-volume production for jet engine programs for a seamless transition from development to production.
