GEK800 Turbofan First Ignition Milestone for JASSM Program

GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions successfully ignited the first serial number of the GEK800 turbofan cruise missile propulsion system on September 21, 2026, at the Kratos X-58 test facility in San Diego, California. The milestone initiates a new testing campaign for the engine, which recently secured a United States Air Force (USAF) development Contracts for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) program.

In a joint press release, the companies announced that the ignition test achieved a 100 percent success rate for this critical development phase, keeping the program on schedule. The GEK800, an 800-pound thrust class engine, is designed to provide an affordable, high-performance propulsion solution for attritable strike assets and collaborative combat aircraft.

Transition to formal military development

The successful ignition follows a major programmatic shift for the GEK800. On August 17, 2026, the USAF awarded the program an Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) contract to serve as a second-source propulsion system for JASSM. Concurrently, the engine received the official U.S. Military-Aircraft Engine Type Designation F143-ZZ-100.

This contract marked the transition of the engine from an internally funded technology demonstration to a formal military development program. GE Aerospace and Kratos initiated the GEK800 program in 2023 with support from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Prior to the September 21 ignition of Serial Number 1, the engine architecture completed altitude testing at Purdue University’s Zucrow Laboratories in 2025 and accumulated more than 50 ground-test engine starts by August 2026.

Industry collaboration and production readiness

Executives from both companies emphasized the speed and reliability of the development cycle. Jorge Perez, General Manager of Edison Works Advanced Combat Engines at GE Aerospace, stated that the engine continues to demonstrate strong performance and durability, delivering a highly capable system for demanding cruise missile applications.

Kratos is positioning its Manufacturing base to support the anticipated demand for the F143. Stacey Rock, President of Kratos’ Turbine Technologies Division, noted that the company continues to accelerate program schedules in preparation for large volume production.

“The combined Kratos, GE Aerospace, and Government test team has demonstrated exceptional focus, discipline, and schedule execution,” said Chris Rawlings, Vice President of Kratos’ Defense Engine Portfolio. “This team sets the benchmark for operational efficiency and provides a refreshing reminder that our nation can develop turbine engines affordably and at pace.”

AirPro News analysis

The rapid maturation of the GEK800 from a 2023 concept to a formally designated military engine (F143-ZZ-100) in 2026 underscores a shifting acquisition strategy within the Department of Defense. The Pentagon is increasingly prioritizing affordable, mass-producible propulsion systems to build out inventories of standoff weapons and collaborative combat aircraft. By establishing a second-source engine for the JASSM program, the USAF is actively mitigating supply chain risks and expanding industrial capacity for attritable assets.

We note that the September 21 press release issued by the companies contained repeated references to the “Department of War.” As this term was officially replaced by the Department of Defense in 1947, we assess this to be a typographical error in the official release rather than a programmatic shift. The contracting entity remains the USAF under the Department of Defense, as confirmed by the August 17 EMD contract announcement.

Sources: GE Aerospace Press Release