Kratos Concludes High-Altitude Testing of GEK800 Jet Engine for Tactical UAVs

Milivox analysis: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has completed high-altitude qualification testing of its GEK800 turbojet engine—an internally developed propulsion system designed to power Group 3 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The milestone positions Kratos to offer a domestically produced alternative to foreign-sourced small turbine engines in tactical drone applications.

Background

The GEK800 is part of Kratos’ broader strategy to vertically integrate propulsion capabilities into its growing portfolio of tactical and attritable unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The company has been a key player in the U.S. Department of Defense’s push toward low-cost, high-performance drones for contested environments—most notably through programs like the XQ-58A Valkyrie and the Air Force’s Skyborg initiative.

Group 3 UAVs—typically weighing between 25–600 kg and operating below 5,500 meters—occupy a critical niche between hand-launched drones and larger MALE/HALE systems like MQ-9 Reaper or RQ-4 Global Hawk. These platforms are increasingly used for ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), electronic warfare (EW), target acquisition, and loitering munition roles.

Until recently, many U.S.-based developers relied on foreign-made turbine engines from suppliers such as PBS Velká Bíteš (Czech Republic) or JetCat (Germany). This reliance created vulnerabilities in supply chain security and export control compliance. Kratos’ development of the GEK800 aims to mitigate those risks by offering a fully domestic propulsion solution tailored to DoD requirements.

Technical Overview

The GEK800 is a small turbojet engine optimized for Group 3 UAV applications. While Kratos has not publicly disclosed detailed specifications such as thrust class or fuel consumption rates as of November 2025, Milivox assesses that the engine likely produces between 200–400 N (45–90 lbf) of thrust based on comparable systems in this class.

The recent altitude testing was conducted at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) in Tennessee—a premier U.S. Air Force facility used for simulating high-altitude flight conditions up to stratospheric levels. According to Kratos’ announcement on November 3rd, the tests validated engine performance across operational altitudes relevant to tactical UAV missions.

Altitude simulation: Up to ~12,000 meters simulated via AEDC test cells
Thermal envelope validation: Cold-soak and hot-start cycles tested
Fuel compatibility: Compatible with JP-8 / Jet-A fuels per military standards
Control system: Digital electronic fuel control unit integrated
TBO goal: Targeting >20 hours time-between-overhaul for expendable-class use cases

The successful completion of these tests marks a key step toward production readiness and potential integration into active DoD programs or commercial sales channels.

Operational or Strategic Context

The strategic significance of the GEK800 lies in its potential role within emerging concepts such as “attritable” airpower—low-cost drones designed for limited lifespans but able to operate in highly contested environments where traditional assets are too expensive or vulnerable.

This aligns with broader Pentagon initiatives like Replicator—a program announced by Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks aiming to field thousands of autonomous systems by FY2026—and complements evolving Army efforts such as the Gray Eagle Extended Range modernization effort (GE-ER/25M), which may benefit from smaller supporting drones powered by such engines.

The capability also supports distributed operations concepts such as Agile Combat Employment (ACE), where rapidly deployable ISR/EW assets will be critical under degraded logistics conditions. A domestically sourced turbine engine reduces logistical complexity while enhancing sustainment resilience under wartime conditions.

Market or Industry Impact

The small turbine engine market remains niche but strategically vital. With few Western suppliers offering ITAR-compliant microturbines suitable for military applications, Kratos’ entry into this space could disrupt existing dominance by European firms like PBS Aerospace or German-based AMT Titan.

If scaled successfully into production volumes exceeding hundreds per year—a realistic figure given projected demand from loitering munitions and attritable swarms—the GEK800 could become a foundational component across multiple platforms within both U.S. and allied inventories.

Differentiators: Domestic sourcing; tailored integration with Kratos platforms; ITAR-compliance
Main competitors: PBS TJ80 / TJ100; AMT Titan; JetCat P400-P400Pro series

This move also strengthens Kratos’ vertical integration strategy—reducing dependency on third-party suppliers while increasing margins across its drone product lines such as the Air Wolf tactical jet drone or future variants derived from XQ-series demonstrators.

Milivox Commentary

As assessed by Milivox experts, the successful altitude qualification test represents more than just an engineering milestone—it signals Kratos’ intent to dominate not only airframe design but also propulsion subsystems within the tactical drone segment. This mirrors historical patterns seen during Cold War-era aircraft development where companies like General Dynamics or McDonnell Douglas sought end-to-end control over fighter design ecosystems—including engines via partnerships with Pratt & Whitney or General Electric.

If adopted widely across DoD programs—or even allied export markets—the GEK800 may serve as a bellwether for future trends in modularity and supply chain sovereignty within unmanned aviation. However, success will depend heavily on proving durability over extended mission cycles and maintaining cost targets that align with attritable platform economics (~USD $100k–$300k per airframe).

Milivox will continue monitoring follow-on developments including full-rate production timelines, platform integrations beyond internal Kratos designs, and any foreign military sales activity involving this new powerplant class.