GE Aerospace and Kratos Partner on Small Affordable Engines
GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner on the development and production of small affordable engines for potential use in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), collaborative combat aircraft, and similar applications. This agreement, once finalized, will replace an existing joint development agreement and includes full-scale engine production.
The companies have been collaborating for the past year on a small affordable engine, which was initially developed and ground tested by Kratos. Under the current agreement, they have completed additional development efforts and are conducting tests. The team plans to continue development, with altitude testing scheduled for next year at GE Aerospace's test cell in Evendale, Ohio.
GE Aerospace e Kratos Defense & Security Solutions hanno firmato un Memorandum d'Intesa per collaborare nello sviluppo e nella produzione di motori piccoli e accessibili per un potenziale utilizzo in sistemi aerei senza pilota (UAS), aerei da combattimento collaborativi e applicazioni simili. Questo accordo, una volta finalizzato, sostituirà un accordo di sviluppo congiunto esistente e include la produzione di motori su larga scala.
Le aziende hanno collaborato nel corso dell'ultimo anno su un motore piccolo e accessibile, inizialmente sviluppato e testato a terra da Kratos. Nell'accordo attuale, hanno completato ulteriori sforzi di sviluppo e stanno conducendo test. Il team prevede di continuare lo sviluppo, con prove di altitudine programmate per il prossimo anno presso il centro di prova di GE Aerospace a Evendale, Ohio.
GE Aerospace y Kratos Defense & Security Solutions han firmado un Memorando de Entendimiento para asociarse en el desarrollo y producción de motores pequeños y asequibles para un uso potencial en sistemas aéreos no tripulados (UAS), aviones de combate colaborativos y aplicaciones similares. Este acuerdo, una vez finalizado, reemplazará un acuerdo de desarrollo conjunto existente e incluirá producción de motores a gran escala.
Las empresas han estado colaborando durante el último año en un motor pequeño y asequible, que fue inicialmente desarrollado y probado en tierra por Kratos. Bajo el acuerdo actual, han completado esfuerzos adicionales de desarrollo y están realizando pruebas. El equipo planea continuar el desarrollo, con pruebas de altitud programadas para el próximo año en la célula de prueba de GE Aerospace en Evendale, Ohio.
GE Aerospace와 Kratos Defense & Security Solutions는 소형 저렴한 엔진의 개발 및 생산을 위한 파트너십을 체결했습니다. 이는 무인 항공 시스템(UAS), 협동 전투기 및 유사한 응용 분야에서 사용될 가능성이 있습니다. 이 협정은 최종화되면 기존의 공동 개발 협정을 대체하며 대규모 엔진 생산을 포함합니다.
두 회사는 지난 1년간 Kratos가 처음 개발하고 지상 시험을 진행한 소형 저렴한 엔진에 대해 협력해 왔습니다. 현재 협정에 따라 추가 개발 작업을 완료하고 시험을 진행 중입니다. 팀은 개발을 계속할 계획이며, 내년에는 오하이오주 에벤데일에 있는 GE Aerospace의 테스트 셀에서 고도 시험이 예정되어 있습니다.
GE Aerospace et Kratos Defense & Security Solutions ont signé un Memorandum d'Entente pour s'associer dans le développement et la production de petits moteurs abordables destinés à un usage potentiel dans des systèmes aériens sans pilote (UAS), des avions de combat collaboratifs et des applications similaires. Cet accord, une fois finalisé, remplacera un accord de développement conjoint existant et inclura la production de moteurs à grande échelle.
Les entreprises collaborent depuis un an sur un petit moteur abordable, qui a été initialement développé et testé au sol par Kratos. Dans le cadre de l'accord actuel, elles ont achevé des efforts de développement supplémentaires et réalisent des tests. L'équipe prévoit de poursuivre le développement, avec des tests d'altitude prévus pour l'année prochaine dans la cellule d'essai de GE Aerospace à Evendale, dans l'Ohio.
GE Aerospace und Kratos Defense & Security Solutions haben ein Memorandum of Understanding unterzeichnet, um bei der Entwicklung und Produktion von kleinen, erschwinglichen Triebwerken zusammenzuarbeiten, die potenziell in unbemannten Luftfahrtsystemen (UAS), kooperativen Kampfjets und ähnlichen Anwendungen eingesetzt werden können. Diese Vereinbarung wird, sobald sie abgeschlossen ist, eine bestehende gemeinsame Entwicklungsvereinbarung ersetzen und umfasst die Produktion von Triebwerken in voller Größe.
Die Unternehmen haben im vergangenen Jahr an einem kleinen, erschwinglichen Triebwerk zusammengearbeitet, das ursprünglich von Kratos entwickelt und im Boden getestet wurde. Im Rahmen der aktuellen Vereinbarung haben sie zusätzliche Entwicklungsanstrengungen abgeschlossen und Tests durchgeführt. Das Team plant, die Entwicklung fortzusetzen, wobei Höhenprüfungen für das nächste Jahr in der Testzelle von GE Aerospace in Evendale, Ohio, angesetzt sind.
- Partnership with GE Aerospace for small affordable engine development and production
- Potential for thousands of turbofan engines to be produced for multiple customers
- Expansion from development to full-scale engine production
- Kratos' 20+ years of experience in small jet engines for UAS, drones, and missiles
- GE Aerospace's 100+ years of experience in jet engine development and production scaling
- None.
Insights
The partnership between GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to develop small affordable engines is a strategic move that capitalizes on both companies' strengths. GE Aerospace brings over a century of expertise in jet engine production, which ensures high-quality scaling capabilities. Kratos, on the other hand, has a specialized focus on small, affordable engines tailored for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and other military applications. This collaboration is poised to meet the evolving demands of defense customers who are increasingly looking for cost-effective and efficient solutions. This could lead to significant future contracts, enhancing both companies' revenue streams. For an investor, this partnership represents an opportunity for sustained growth in a niche but expanding market, bolstered by substantial R&D investments and proven track records.
From a financial perspective, the formalized agreement between GE Aerospace and Kratos is poised to have a positive impact on both companies' valuations. The defense sector's growing interest in unmanned aerial systems and cost-effective military technologies suggests a strong market demand. This partnership could lead to lucrative contracts and long-term revenue streams. GE Aerospace’s established manufacturing capabilities combined with Kratos' niche expertise in small engines provide a competitive edge. Investors should note that this collaboration might result in increased capital expenditure in the short term but promises high returns in the long run. Key metrics to watch would be the progression of development milestones and any forthcoming contracts related to this partnership.
This partnership signifies a significant trend in the defense industry towards more agile and cost-effective technologies. The development of small affordable engines is important for the future of unmanned systems and collaborative combat aircraft. This move not only responds to current market needs but also anticipates future demands. The involvement of both GE Aerospace and Kratos highlights the importance of combining innovative technologies with established manufacturing prowess. For retail investors, this collaboration showcases a forward-thinking approach that could capture a substantial share of the defense market, especially as military operations increasingly incorporate UAS. Monitoring industry responses and any subsequent product launches will be key in assessing the long-term impact of this partnership.
Agreement covers development and production of small affordable engines for possible use in unmanned aerial systems, collaborative combat aircraft, and similar applications
FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, July 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a technology company in Defense, National Security and Global Markets, today announced that GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) and Kratos Turbine Technologies, a division of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., signed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner on the development and production of small affordable engines that could potentially power unmanned aerial systems (UAS), collaborative combat aircraft, and similar applications.
The agreement, once finalized, will replace an existing joint development agreement and includes full-scale engine production. For the last year, GE Aerospace and Kratos have been working together on a small affordable engine. The engine initially was developed and ground tested by Kratos. Under the existing joint agreement, GE Aerospace and Kratos completed additional development efforts and are now conducting tests on the engine. The team plans to continue development on the current engine, which will undergo altitude testing next year at GE Aerospace’s test cell in Evendale, Ohio.
Amy Gowder, President and CEO, Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace said, “Our defense customers have a growing interest in small affordable engines to meet their evolving mission requirements. Our initial collaboration has been very successful, and this agreement furthers our efforts in this new dynamic military segment.”
Eric DeMarco, President & CEO of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., said, “Kratos has made significant investments in the development of our family of small, low-cost jet engines for jet powered drones, missiles, and powered munitions that lead in technology and capability. We consider our relationship with GE Aerospace as invaluable based on our expectation and forecast for the potential future production of thousands of turbofan engines for multiple customers.”
Each company brings unique expertise to the partnership. Kratos has more than 20 years of experience in the development and production of small affordable jet engines for UAS, drones, and missiles. GE Aerospace has more than 100 years of experience in the development and scaling up of high-volume production for jet engine programs for a seamless transition from development to production.
About GE Aerospace
GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE) is a global aerospace propulsion, services, and systems leader with an installed base of approximately 44,000 commercial and 26,000 military aircraft engines. With a global team of 52,000 employees building on more than a century of innovation and learning, GE Aerospace is committed to inventing the future of flight, lifting people up, and bringing them home safely. Learn more about how GE Aerospace and its partners are defining flight for today, tomorrow and the future at www.geaerospace.com.
About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS) is a technology, products, system and software company addressing the defense, national security, and commercial markets. Kratos makes true internally funded research, development, capital and other investments, to rapidly develop, produce and field solutions that address our customers’ mission critical needs and requirements. At Kratos, affordability is a technology, and we seek to utilize proven, leading edge approaches and technology, not unproven bleeding edge approaches or technology, with Kratos’ approach designed to reduce cost, schedule and risk, enabling us to be first to market with cost effective solutions. We believe that Kratos is known as an innovative disruptive change agent in the industry, a company that is an expert in designing products and systems up front for successful rapid, large quantity, low cost future manufacturing which is a value add competitive differentiator for our large traditional prime system integrator partners and also to our government and commercial customers. Kratos intends to pursue program and contract opportunities as the prime or lead contractor when we believe that our probability of win (PWin) is high and any investment required by Kratos is within our capital resource comfort level. We intend to partner and team with a large, traditional system integrator when our assessment of PWin is greater or required investment is beyond Kratos’ comfort level. Kratos’ primary business areas include virtualized ground systems for satellites and space vehicles including software for command & control (C2) and telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C), jet powered unmanned aerial drone systems, hypersonic vehicles and rocket systems, propulsion systems for drones, missiles, loitering munitions, supersonic systems, space craft and launch systems, C5ISR and microwave electronic products for missile, radar, missile defense, space, satellite, counter UAS, directed energy, communication and other systems, and virtual & augmented reality training systems for the warfighter. For more information, visit www.KratosDefense.com.
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Kratos and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Kratos believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Kratos.
Press Contact:
Claire Burghoff
+1 (314) 210-1287
claire.burghoff@kratosdefense.com
Deb Case
+1.513.4181644
deborah.case@ge.com
Investor Information:
877-934-4687
investor@kratosdefense.com
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