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As engine-makers jostle for position in the emerging Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) market, GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have won a $12.4 million U.S. Air Force contract to complete preliminary design of the jointly developed GEK1500 engine targeting missiles and reusable uncrewed aircraft.
The fast-paced GEK1500 development effort was announced in mid-2025, and builds on experience gained with the GEK800, an 800-lb.-thrust engine designed to power expendable vehicles such as cruise missiles. The first engine to be developed under the GE-Kratos partnership, the GEK800 turbine is a scaled-up derivative of the 650-lb.-thrust Kratos KTT650 engine.
GE and Kratos say, “an additional option on the contract, if exercised, would enable the team to assess key design risks and characterize engine performance under relevant flight and installation conditions for the GEK1500 engine.”
“Lessons learned from recent GEK800 altitude testing are directly informing GEK1500–improving thrust, power generation, and lifecycle cost–so we can meet CCA requirements without compromising affordability or schedule,” adds Steve Russell, vice president and general manager of Edison Works at GE Aerospace.
GE adds that altitude testing of the GEK800 engine recently “demonstrated critical technologies that will provide future systems increased range, increased thrust, decreased lifecycle cost, and increased electrical power. The investments and progress made to date on the GEK800 will reduce the cost and schedule timelines for the GEK1500 and provide enhanced performance for small CCAs.”
The GE-Kratos partnership is developing a family of low-cost engines as the U.S. military considers options for acquiring a stockpile of affordable cruise missiles. Various requirements include the Stand-off Attack Missile, the Enterprise Test Vehicle, the "Franklin" low-cost cruise missile, Extended Range Attack Munition, Multi-Mission Affordable Capacity Effector and the Coalition Affordable Maritime Strike weapon.
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