GE Aerospace, Kratos win JASSM engine development deal
JASSM hangs inside the South Dakota Air and Space Museum
The U.S. Air Force has designated a new turbofan engine built by GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions as the F143-ZZ-100 and awarded the companies a contract to develop it as a second engine option for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, the companies announced.
The engine, previously known as the GEK800, generates about 800 pounds (3.6 kilonewtons) of thrust. Under the new Engineering, Manufacturing and Development contract, GE Aerospace and Kratos will advance the F143 as a second-source propulsion system for JASSM, the Air Force’s primary long-range cruise missile.
JASSM and its extended-range and anti-ship variants currently rely on the Williams International F107-WR-105 turbofan as their sole engine supplier. The Pentagon awarded Williams a $253.7 million contract in December 2024 to expand production of that engine to support higher output across the JASSM, LRASM and Tomahawk missile programs.
GE Aerospace and Kratos began developing the GEK800 in 2023, combining internal investment with funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory. The companies said the joint team has logged more than 50 engine starts in ground testing at Kratos and GE Aerospace facilities. In 2025, the engine completed altitude testing at Purdue University’s Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories.
“The F143 designation and EMD award are a testament to the strong performance and capability of the GEK800 engine and the strength of our partnership with Kratos,” said Amy Gowder, president and CEO of GE Aerospace Defense & Systems. “This reflects years of disciplined engineering to deliver propulsion systems that meet the evolving, mission-critical requirements of our military customers.”
“Kratos has been working with our outstanding partner GE Aerospace and the United States Air Force to support the Department of War in reindustrializing U.S. manufacturing capacity and capability in the area of low cost, rapidly manufacturable, in large quantities, jet engines for drones, cruise missiles, and other systems,” said Eric DeMarco, president and CEO of Kratos.
“The DoW is providing industry clear demand signals, including multi-year contractual framework agreements for missile systems, and both Kratos and GE Aerospace have responded, including making significant investments with our government partners, to support U.S. National Security priorities,” DeMarco said.
The GEK800 is designed for cruise missiles, collaborative combat aircraft and other uncrewed platforms. GE Aerospace has separately won a contract to advance the GE426, a larger engine intended to power the Air Force’s planned fleet of uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft, building on engineering work from the GEK800 and the larger GEK1500 variant Kratos and GE Aerospace are developing together.
GE Aerospace has an installed base of approximately 50,000 commercial and 30,000 military aircraft engines and employs about 57,000 people globally.
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GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions were awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force to develop the F143-ZZ-100 turbofan engine for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). The new engine, generating 800 pounds of thrust, is part of efforts to provide a second-source propulsion system for JASSM, which currently relies on a single engine supplier. Testing has included over 50 engine starts and altitude testing at Purdue University.
- The U.S. Air Force awarded a contract for the development of the F143-ZZ-100 engine.
- The engine generates about 800 pounds of thrust.
- GE Aerospace and Kratos have logged over 50 engine starts in testing.
- The engine is intended for use in JASSM and other missile systems.
- The Pentagon awarded a separate contract to expand production of the existing engine supplier.