SAN DIEGO, CA – February 23, 2026 – GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions announced the signing of a joint $12.4 million contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop a next-generation jet engine for small Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
The initial phase of the program will complete the preliminary design of the GEK1500 engine, engineered to meet demanding performance requirements while maintaining aggressive cost targets, enabling affordable large-scale production.
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GEK1500: Focused on Performance and Mass Production
The GEK1500 will deliver 1,500 pounds of thrust and is designed to power:
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
- Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)
Missiles
The new propulsion system leverages the architecture of the GEK800, an engine originally developed for cruise missiles and currently in an advanced stage of technical maturation. According to the companies, lessons learned from recent high-altitude testing of the GEK800 are being directly incorporated into the GEK1500 program.
According to Steve “Doogie” Russell, Vice President and General Manager of Edison Works at GE Aerospace, the testing has enabled improvements in:
- Increased thrust output
- Higher electrical power generation
- Reduced lifecycle costs
- Enhanced operational range
These technological gains are expected to reduce technical risks, costs, and development timelines for the new engine.
Contract Option Expands Technical Scope
The contract also includes an additional option that may be exercised by the Air Force to further assess design risks and characterize engine performance under representative flight and aircraft integration conditions.
The USAF has prioritized high-performance, low-cost engines as a critical enabler for the disruptive small CCA concept — unmanned platforms designed to operate alongside crewed fighter aircraft in high-threat environments.
The GEK1500 program represents another step in strengthening an industrial base focused on affordable tactical engines, considered a key element in the future distributed air combat architecture of the United States.
Source and images: GE Aerospace News. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
