Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has selected Bristow, Oklahoma as the location for a state-of-the-art facility that will produce a new generation of low-cost turbofan engines.
The announcement was made on June 15, 2025, just before the start of the Paris Air Show, by Stacey Rock, President of Kratos Turbine Technologies (KTT).
Facility Details and Production Timeline
Spanning 50,000 square feet, the new facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2026, initially housing two dedicated assembly lines for the GEK800 and GEK1500 engines. These engines, co-developed by KTT and GE Aerospace since 2023, have been in development for over a decade.
Rock stated that the partnership between Kratos and GE is making significant upfront investments in production capabilities, even before securing formal production contracts. This proactive approach positions the company to scale quickly as demand arises.
Disrupting a Market Dominated by Industry Giants
The GEK800 and GEK1500 engines are named for their respective thrust outputs and are engineered to compete with higher-cost engines produced by leading firms such as Williams International, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce.
Kratos began designing a cost-effective turbofan engine architecture ten years ago, targeting expendable and attritable platforms such as uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and cruise missiles.
Automotive Supply Chain Integration
A key innovation behind these engines is the use of materials and supply chain models borrowed from the automotive industry.
According to Rock, the design allows for most parts to be manufactured by hundreds of automotive suppliers, while Kratos and GE will produce only a limited number of critical components in-house.
This approach reduces production costs and accelerates assembly, enhancing the scalability of engine manufacturing.
Scalable Production with Future Growth Potential
Initially, the Bristow plant will produce hundreds of engines annually, with the flexibility to expand output by adding more assembly lines as needed. Rock emphasized that actual production volumes starting in early 2027 will depend on customer contracts, which are yet to be finalized.
While it remains unclear which engine model will receive the first orders, a likely contender is a new propulsion system for the Kratos X-58 Valkyrie, an uncrewed aircraft currently under evaluation by the U.S. Marine Corps.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Defense is exploring the deployment of affordable cruise missile systems, a potential application area for these engine.
By selecting Oklahoma as its manufacturing base, Kratos is taking a bold step toward reshaping the turbofan engine market.
Leveraging cost-effective design principles and an automotive-style supply chain, the company is positioning itself as a competitive alternative to legacy aerospace engine manufacturers.
With GE Aerospace as a key partner and production ramping up in 2026, Kratos is set to play a significant role in the future of uncrewed military aviation and missile propulsion systems.