CINCINNATI and SAN DIEGO — GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have received a U.S. Air Force Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) contract for their GEK800 turbofan engine, which has now received the U.S. military designation F143-ZZ-100.
The F143 will be developed as a second-source propulsion system for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). The contract moves the engine program into the EMD phase following earlier development and testing work by GE Aerospace, Kratos and government partners.
F143 Designed for Missiles and Uncrewed Aircraft
The F143 is an 800-pound-thrust turbofan engine designed for long-range missiles and other uncrewed applications. GE Aerospace and Kratos are also positioning the engine for potential use in cruise missiles, collaborative combat-type aircraft and other unmanned aerial vehicles.
The program is focused on developing small, lower-cost, high-performance engines that can be manufactured in larger quantities for defense applications.
The new designation and EMD contract provide a formal path for continued development of the engine for JASSM while the companies also pursue broader applications for the GEK engine family.
Development Began in 2023
GE Aerospace and Kratos began their collaboration on the engine in 2023. The development effort combined company investment with support and funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
The program included a Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) phase intended to mature the engine design and reduce technical risks before moving into further development.
During the development program, the joint team completed more than 50 engine starts during ground testing at facilities operated by Kratos and GE Aerospace.
In 2025, the GEK800 also completed altitude testing at Purdue University's Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories. The testing was part of the program's effort to evaluate the engine under simulated operational conditions. Kratos and GE Aerospace previously reported that the altitude-test campaign also included durability and limits testing.
Second Engine Source for JASSM
The Air Force's EMD award specifically advances the F143 as an alternative propulsion source for JASSM.
JASSM is a long-range air-launched cruise missile developed for the U.S. military and operated by the United States and allied countries. The U.S. Air Force has continued to procure JASSM and its variants as part of its long-range strike capabilities.
Adding a second propulsion source gives the F143 program a defined role within the JASSM propulsion supply chain while the engine continues through the EMD stage.
Focus on Higher-Volume Engine Manufacturing
The GE Aerospace-Kratos program is also part of a broader effort to expand U.S. manufacturing capacity for smaller jet engines.
Kratos President and CEO Eric DeMarco said the companies are working with the U.S. Air Force and the Department of War to support reindustrialization of U.S. manufacturing capacity for low-cost jet engines that can be rapidly produced in large quantities for drones, cruise missiles and other systems.
GE Aerospace President and CEO of Defense & Systems Amy Gowder said the F143 designation and EMD award demonstrate the performance and capability of the GEK800 and the strength of the GE Aerospace-Kratos partnership.
GEK Engine Family Expands
The GEK800 is part of a broader family of small defense engines being developed by GE Aerospace and Kratos.
GE Aerospace has also been developing the GEK1500, a larger engine intended for applications including collaborative combat aircraft and other uncrewed platforms. GE Aerospace said the GEK800's development and testing are helping inform the company's work on this wider engine family.
Kratos is also preparing manufacturing capacity in Bristow, Oklahoma, for the GEK family, with an initial focus on the GEK800.
The F143-ZZ-100 designation and the new EMD contract therefore mark the next development stage for the GEK800, moving the engine from technology maturation and testing toward further engineering and manufacturing development for its planned role as a second propulsion source for JASSM.
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