Defense & Military
Kratos and GE Aerospace Complete Altitude Testing of GEK800 Engine
Kratos and GE Aerospace achieve a key milestone with the GEK800 engine, enabling advanced unmanned aircraft for US defense.
Powering the Future: Kratos and GE Aerospace Hit Key Milestone with GEK800 Engine
In the world of defense technology, progress is often measured in milestones. A recent announcement from Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and GE Aerospace marks one such critical achievement. The successful completion of altitude, durability, and limits testing for their GEK800 engine is more than just a technical validation; it represents a significant step forward in powering the next generation of unmanned Military-Aircraft. This development is pivotal as the U.S. military shifts its strategy towards a concept known as “affordable mass”, building a formidable fleet of effective, lower-cost unmanned systems to complement its traditional crewed fighters.
The GEK800 engine is specifically designed for this new era of air combat. It is poised to become the heart of advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), cruise missiles, and, most notably, the U.S. Air Force’s high-priority Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. These CCAs, often called “loyal wingmen,” are semi-autonomous Drones designed to fly alongside crewed jets, multiplying a mission’s capabilities without putting more pilots at risk. The success of this engine program is a direct enabler of this futuristic vision, promising a Propulsion system that meets the stringent performance and cost requirements necessary to build out a planned fleet of at least 1,000 CCAs.
This achievement is the fruit of a powerful strategic Partnerships, formally established in June 2025, that combines Kratos’s agile, rapid-development ethos with GE Aerospace’s century of propulsion expertise and high-rate production capability. The rigorous testing, conducted at Purdue University’s world-renowned Zucrow Laboratories, pushed the engine to its operational boundaries, proving its robustness and clearing a path toward mass production. This collaboration isn’t just building an engine; it’s forging a critical piece of the defense industrial base needed to maintain a technological edge in the years to come.
A Technical Triumph at a Premier Facility
The series of tests completed in late October 2025 were comprehensive and demanding. Conducted at Purdue University’s Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories, the largest academic propulsion lab in the world, the GEK800 was subjected to a battery of trials designed to simulate real-world combat conditions. This included altitude testing to ensure performance in the thin air of high altitudes, durability trials to prove its reliability over time, and limits testing to intentionally push the engine to its breaking point. According to GE Aerospace, the joint team successfully identified the engine’s rotor speed limits and compressive system boundaries, validating its outstanding performance and durability.
The choice of venue was as significant as the tests themselves. The trials marked the inaugural use of the newly expanded ZL9 test facility at Zucrow Labs for an engine test of this nature. This state-of-the-art facility allowed the team to simulate the harsh environments the engine will one day operate in. The collaboration between Kratos, GE Aerospace, and the university’s experts was praised for its efficiency and technical excellence. Daniel Fineberg, the Kratos GEK800 Test Coordination Lead, noted that the joint team “successfully met nearly all test objectives while also validating the capability to conduct this style of testing within a newly commissioned facility.”
The GEK800 is an 800-pound-thrust class jet engine, a product of over a decade of initial development and ground testing by Kratos. The partnership with GE Aerospace, which began informally in 2023, has dramatically accelerated its progress, with over 50 engine starts completed during ground testing before this crucial altitude phase. The engine’s architecture is also designed for scalability, with plans for variants producing up to 3,000 pounds of thrust. A 1,500-pound-thrust version, the GEK1500, is already in development, demonstrating a clear roadmap for powering a wide range of future unmanned platforms.
“Successfully completing altitude testing marks a major milestone in the GEK800 engine program and demonstrates the strength of our partnership with GE Aerospace, AFRL, and Purdue University’s Zucrow Laboratories.” – Stacey Rock, President of Kratos Turbine Technologies.
Strategic Implications and the Dawn of “Affordable Mass”
The success of the GEK800 program extends far beyond the engineering lab. It is a cornerstone of the Pentagon’s evolving defense strategy, which emphasizes the concept of “affordable mass.” This doctrine calls for supplementing expensive, crewed fighter jets with large quantities of less expensive, “attritable” unmanned aircraft. These platforms are effective enough to be decisive in combat but affordable enough that their loss does not constitute a catastrophic strategic or financial blow. This approach aims to counter adversaries by leveraging numerical superiority and overwhelming their defenses.
The Kratos-GE Aerospace partnership is perfectly positioned to deliver on this vision. Kratos contributes over 25 years of experience in developing small, affordable engines, focusing on agile design and cost-effective solutions. GE Aerospace brings its unparalleled legacy in propulsion technology and, critically, the industrial might to scale advanced designs into high-rate production. This synergy bridges the notorious gap between a successful prototype and a mass-produced, field-ready product, a challenge that has often hindered defense innovation.
The primary application for the GEK800 is the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, a key component of the Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative. CCAs will act as force multipliers, controlled by pilots in nearby F-35s or future sixth-generation fighters. They can be tasked with missions like reconnaissance, electronic warfare, or carrying extra munitions, extending the reach and capability of the crewed fleet while keeping pilots safer. The viability of this entire concept hinges on the availability of reliable, affordable propulsion systems like the GEK800. The involvement of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) further underscores the program’s significance to national defense.
Conclusion: A New Chapter in Aerial Warfare
The successful altitude testing of the GEK800 engine is a landmark achievement for Kratos and GE Aerospace, but its true significance lies in what it enables. This milestone validates a critical piece of technology required to bring the U.S. military’s vision for next-generation air combat to life. By proving the engine’s performance and durability, the program moves from the realm of development into the tangible path toward production, promising to power the fleets of unmanned systems that will define the future battlespace.
Looking forward, the scalability of the GEK engine family and the robust industrial partnership behind it suggest a sustained impact on the defense landscape. As the GEK800 moves closer to deployment, it will fuel the strategic shift towards “affordable mass,” fundamentally changing the calculus of air warfare. This engine is more than just a piece of hardware; it is an enabler of a new doctrine, a new generation of aircraft, and a new era of national security capability.
FAQ
Question: What is the GEK800 engine?
Answer: The GEK800 is an 800-pound-thrust class jet engine developed by Kratos and GE Aerospace. It is designed to power next-generation unmanned systems, including cruise missiles and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs).
Question: What is the significance of the successful altitude testing?
Answer: Completing altitude testing is a major technical milestone that validates the engine’s performance, durability, and design under simulated real-world conditions. It moves the engine significantly closer to being ready for mass production and deployment in military aircraft.
Question: What is the “Collaborative Combat Aircraft” (CCA) program?
Answer: The CCA program is a U.S. Air Force initiative to develop semi-autonomous, unmanned aircraft, or “loyal wingmen,” that will fly alongside crewed fighter jets. These UAV will act as force multipliers, performing tasks like surveillance, electronic warfare, and carrying additional weapons to enhance the capabilities of the overall force.
Sources
Photo Credit: Kratos
Defense & Military
RCAF Accepts First Two CF-35A Fighters at Luke Air Force Base
Canada takes delivery of CF-35A fighters AR-1 and AR-2 at Luke AFB as its C$19B procurement program remains under review.
This is original reporting and analysis by AirPro News.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) officially accepted delivery of its first two Lockheed Martin CF-35A Lightning II stealth fighters at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona on October 22, 2026, marking the physical introduction of the fifth-generation platform into the Canadian military.
The handover of the aircraft, designated AR-1 and AR-2, proceeds even as the broader C$19 billion procurement program remains in political limbo. Following trade and diplomatic tensions with the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney initiated a formal review of the 88-aircraft purchase in March 2025, leaving the ultimate size and composition of Canada’s future fighter fleet unconfirmed.
Initial training operations in Arizona
The first two CF-35As will remain stationed at Luke Air Force Base to support the initial training cadre of Canadian instructor pilots and maintainers. The Arizona installation serves as a primary international training hub for the F-35 platform, hosting multiple allied nations. According to the Department of National Defence (DND), a total of eight Canadian jets are planned to be based at the facility through 2026 and 2027.
The delivery occurred exactly one month after the first Canadian aircraft completed its maiden flight at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 23, 2026. In an official statement regarding the delivery, the RCAF noted that the arrival of the jets represents a foundational step, adding that the future of air and space power is built on more than equipment alone.
Procurement review and fleet uncertainty
Canada has been a partner in the Joint Strike Fighter program since 1997. After years of political debate and a reset of the procurement process, the Canadian government selected the F-35A in 2022 over the Saab Gripen E to replace its aging McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet fleet. The CF-18 has been in service since the 1980s and is slated for retirement in the early 2030s. In January 2023, Ottawa finalized the agreement to purchase 88 F-35As.
The procurement trajectory shifted in March 2025 when Prime Minister Carney ordered a formal review of the acquisition. Currently, only 16 of the 88 jets are firmly committed and funded. Minister of National Defence David McGuinty confirmed the ongoing evaluation, stating that the question of the F-35 remains under review and that both he and the prime minister are highly engaged in the issue alongside the emerging Defence Investment Agency.
The government is actively evaluating the possibility of operating a mixed fighter fleet. This approach could integrate Saab Gripen E fighters alongside a smaller number of F-35s, reopening a competition that Saab had previously lost during the Future Fighter Capability Project selection.
Path to operational capability
Despite the political uncertainty surrounding the final fleet size, the RCAF continues to execute its transition plan for the funded aircraft. The first CF-35As are scheduled to arrive on Canadian soil at 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta in 2028.
The air force plans to declare Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the CF-35A fleet between 2029 and 2030. This timeline aligns with the necessary infrastructure upgrades at Canadian bases and the completion of initial pilot and maintainer training in the United States.
AirPro News analysis
Canada’s ongoing review of the F-35 program is highly unusual for a Tier 3 partner at this late stage of procurement. While the physical delivery of AR-1 and AR-2 ensures the RCAF can begin building its fifth-generation institutional knowledge, the potential pivot to a mixed fleet introduces significant logistical and interoperability questions. Operating both the CF-35A and the Saab Gripen E would require maintaining two distinct supply chains, training pipelines, and maintenance infrastructures. We note that these dual-fleet requirements could potentially offset the initial acquisition savings of a split purchase, complicating the RCAF’s transition away from the CF-18 Hornet.
Photo Credit: Royal Canadian Air Force
Defense & Military
U.S. Army Validates AH-64E Apache Maritime Lifting Sling
The U.S. Army validated a lifting sling for the AH-64E Apache, enabling crane-based maritime loading with rotor blades folded.
The U.S. Army has successfully validated a prototype lifting sling for the Boeing AH-64E Apache, clearing the attack helicopter for crane-based maritime loading and unloading with its main rotor blades folded.
Announced on October 21, 2026, by the Apache Helicopter Project Office, the validation fulfills the final transportability requirement outlined in the aircraft’s Capability Production Document (CPD). The milestone significantly expands the Army’s expeditionary logistics options by reducing reliance on specialized port infrastructure.
Expanding maritime logistics capabilities
Prior to this validation, maritime deployment of the Apache fleet often depended on Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) vessels or specialized dock facilities equipped with ramps capable of supporting towed aircraft. The new sling, engineered by industry partner ASRC Federal, allows the AH-64E to be hoisted using standard harbor and shipboard cranes.
This Lift-On/Lift-Off (LOLO) capability mitigates transit bottlenecks and lowers vessel charter costs by opening access to a wider range of global seaports. The U.S. Army stated that the ability to load and unload the aircraft with its main rotor blades folded is a major milestone for expeditionary mobility.
Prototype validation and next steps
The validation exercise took place at Fort Hood, Texas, overseen by the Apache Project Management Transportability Team based at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. During the testing, the team successfully demonstrated the safe hoisting of the AH-64E using the ASRC Federal prototype hardware.
Following the exercise, the test team identified minor adjustments required before full production. These modifications include the addition of protective padding to prevent the hoisting cable from contacting the main rotor blades during lifting operations. Once these adjustments are validated, ASRC Federal will manufacture and deliver five contracted production prototypes to the U.S. Army.
The AH-64E Apache global footprint
Manufactured by The Boeing Company, the AH-64 Apache has served as the primary attack helicopters for the U.S. Army since 1984. The AH-64E is the latest variant, featuring upgraded sensors, software, and weapons performance. The U.S. Army is currently modernizing its fleet to the AH-64E Version 6.5 standard while gradually retiring older AH-64D models.
The global Apache fleet consists of more than 1,280 aircraft operating across 19 defense forces. In March 2023, Boeing reported the U.S. Army fleet had surpassed 5 million total flight hours.
International demand for the platform remains active. On August 11, 2026, Boeing signed offset agreements with Polish industry partners to build a long-term sustainment infrastructure supporting Poland’s incoming fleet of 96 AH-64E helicopters.
AirPro News analysis
The shift from RORO dependency to LOLO capability represents a critical logistical upgrade for U.S. Army aviation. As military planners focus on distributed operations and expeditionary mobility, the ability to utilize commercial container ports and standard maritime cranes reduces reliance on specialized military sealift vessels. This transportability milestone ensures the AH-64E can be deployed more rapidly and flexibly in contested or infrastructure-limited theaters.
Photo Credit: United States Army – Courtesy
Defense & Military
GA-ASI and Spirit Defense Partner on FQ-42 Vengeance CCA
GA-ASI and Spirit Defense team up to manufacture the FQ-42 Vengeance airframe as the USAF targets 500 CCAs by 2032.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Spirit Defense have formed a strategic partnership to manufacture the airframe for the U.S. Air Force’s FQ-42 Vengeance Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
Announced in an October 23, 2026, press release, the agreement designates Spirit Defense, a Boeing Company, as a fuselage design-build partner. The collaboration aims to expand manufacturing capacity and establish production resilience as the U.S. Air Force (USAF) accelerates its uncrewed fighter program toward a goal of fielding hundreds of aircraft by the next decade.
Scaling production for the uncrewed fleet
The partnership connects GA-ASI headquarters in San Diego, California, with Spirit Defense operations in Wichita, Kansas. Spirit Defense operates as an independent supplier to the defense industry, providing engineering, manufacturing, and lifecycle support for military programs. By integrating Spirit Defense into the supply chain, GA-ASI intends to reduce the risk of single points of failure and increase the industrial depth required for high-volume production.
GA-ASI recently completed a new low-observable paint facility to support the CCA program and stated it is currently positioned to deliver six aircraft per month to meet initial USAF objectives. The addition of Spirit Defense is designed to scale that output further.
David R. Alexander, President of GA-ASI, highlighted the strategic necessity of the agreement in meeting military requirements.
“We’re excited to be working with Spirit Defense. We’ve established our proven design, development, and manufacturing capability for the FQ-42. With Spirit Defense we add capacity, which is exactly the kind of production resilience our U.S. Air Force customer is looking for with its CCA ramp-up. This kind of partnership represents the scalable industrial base the Air Force and the U.S. Department of [Defense] are looking for from industry.”
Keith Schrader, President and CEO of Spirit Defense, confirmed the company’s readiness to support the airframe build.
“We’re proud to bring deep manufacturing expertise and proven capabilities to this important program. Our team understands the responsibility that comes with supporting critical national defense programs, and we’re ready to deliver for our customer and the warfighter.”
The FQ-42 Vengeance in testing and evaluation
The FQ-42 Vengeance is a purpose-built, fifth-generation uncrewed fighter developed to operate alongside crewed aircraft in semi-autonomous combat roles. The design features an internal weapons bay, low observability, and a modular architecture intended for the rapid integration of mission systems and autonomy software.
On September 18, 2026, GA-ASI delivered a new FQ-42 Vengeance to Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to support continued USAF test, evaluation, and experimentation. The aircraft has already participated in formation flights with crewed fighters, including the F-35 Lightning II and the F-15E Strike Eagle.
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink officially named the aircraft “Vengeance” on September 14, 2026. The aircraft was previously known internally as Dark Merlin. During the naming announcement, Meink emphasized the rapid pace of the acquisition program.
“Today, the first FQ-42 and FQ-44 increments are already rolling off the assembly line,” Meink stated. “They’ll be performing many of the same missions that we do with manned fighters today.”
Evolution of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiative
The USAF Collaborative Combat Aircraft program is designed to field affordable, semi-autonomous drones to augment crewed fighter squadrons. The target unit cost for the aircraft at full-rate production is approximately $20 million.
GA-ASI was selected by the USAF in April 2024 to build production-representative flight test articles for the program. The FQ-42 Vengeance completed its maiden flight in August 2025, and GA-ASI secured an initial production contract from the USAF in June 2026. The FQ-42 is one of two primary designs selected for the first increment of CCA production, alongside Anduril Industries’ FQ-44 Fury.
The scope of the CCA program has expanded significantly since its inception. Initial projections called for 150 aircraft, but on September 14, 2026, the USAF confirmed a revised goal to field at least 500 Collaborative Combat Aircraft by 2032.
Mike Shortsleeve, Vice President for Strategy Business Development at GA-ASI, addressed the increased production targets following the USAF announcement.
“The intent for them is to go up to as many as 500 aircraft by 2032,” Shortsleeve said. “We’re ready to do that production.”
GA-ASI has operated as a sole manufacturer of its Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) line since its founding in 1992. Over 30 years, the company’s Predator line has logged more than 9 million flight hours across platforms including the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-9A Reaper, MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian, and the MQ-20 Avenger.
Beyond the domestic FQ-42 program, GA-ASI is engaged in discussions with international militaries regarding the Gambit Series. The Gambit Series is a family of modular CCAs derived from the FQ-42, the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station, and the MQ-20 Avenger, optimized for electronic warfare, suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses, and stand-off precision strike missions.
AirPro News analysis
The partnership between GA-ASI and Spirit Defense illustrates the central challenge of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program: industrial capacity. Designing a capable uncrewed fighter is only half the mandate; the other half is manufacturing it at a scale and price point that traditional defense primes have struggled to achieve with crewed aircraft. By bringing a Boeing subsidiary into the fold for fuselage production, GA-ASI is signaling to the Department of Defense that it can meet the aggressive 2032 target of 500 aircraft without requiring massive, unilateral capital expenditure.
This distributed manufacturing approach also directly addresses the Pentagon’s ongoing concerns regarding supply chain fragility. Relying on a single facility in San Diego for a critical next-generation platform presents a strategic vulnerability. Distributing the airframe build to Wichita builds redundancy into the program while leveraging existing aerospace manufacturing infrastructure, a model that will likely become standard as the USAF pushes for higher volumes of attritable or semi-attritable autonomous systems.
Photo Credit: General Atomics
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