On Monday, August 17, 2026, US companies GE Aerospace (part of General Electric) and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. announced that the GEK800 turbojet engine had been selected as an alternative propulsion system for the AGM-158 JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) family of air-launched cruise missiles and had received the US military designation F143-ZZ-100. At the same time, the US Air Force (USAF) awarded the companies a contract under the Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase.
GEK800 / Photo: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
The primary propulsion system currently used by AGM-158B JASSM-ER missiles is the F107-WR-105A, supplied by Williams International and producing 6.22 kN of thrust. Older AGM-158A missiles, meanwhile, are powered by the J402-CA-100 engine, producing approximately 3.0 kN of thrust and supplied by Teledyne and CAE.
The designation and contract award for the GEK800 mark further progress in a program aimed at delivering small, low-cost, high-performance engines for cruise missiles, combat aircraft, and other unmanned aerial vehicles.
“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. This reflects years of disciplined engineering to deliver propulsion systems that meet the evolving, mission-critical requirements of our military customers,” said Amy Gowder, President and CEO of GE Aerospace Defense & Systems.
“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. 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,” said Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos.
The GEK800, now designated F143, is an 800 lbf (approximately 360 kgf), or 3.56 kN, turbofan engine designed to power long-range missiles and other unmanned aerial systems. Through a combination of internal investment and support and funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Kratos and GE Aerospace began working together in 2023 to complete the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) phase, including engine testing. The joint team conducted more than 50 engine starts during ground testing at Kratos and GE Aerospace facilities and successfully completed altitude testing in 2025 at Purdue University’s Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories.
It is worth noting that although the F143-ZZ-100 produces less thrust than the F107-WR-105A, fuel consumption, or specific fuel consumption (SFC), is a more important parameter than peak thrust in cruise missiles. At the same time, the US Department of Defense is pushing to reduce production costs and unit prices of weapon systems, and GE Aerospace and Kratos say they are pursuing such reductions.
On February 23 this year, the companies received a joint 12.4 million USD contract from the USAF to develop the small GEK1500 jet engine for a new generation of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The engine is to be based on the architecture of the GEK800 discussed above. The two companies have been cooperating in this field since June 2025.
Kratos and @GE_Aerospace are advancing the GEK800 program with the @usairforce‘s Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) award for the newly designated F143‑ZZ‑100 engine.
This milestone strengthens our joint effort to deliver small, low‑cost, high‑performance… pic.twitter.com/7DjX0CMdcc
— Kratos (@KratosDefense) August 17, 2026