US Air Force Selects GE-Kratos F143 as Second Engine Source for JASSM

The US Air Force has taken a significant step towards expanding its standoff-strike inventory by awarding a contract to GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions for the development of the F143 engine. This engine, also known as the GEK800 turbofan, will serve as a second-source propulsion system for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM).

## Introduction to the F143 Engine The F143 engine is designed to provide a reliable and efficient propulsion system for long-range missiles and other uncrewed applications. With a thrust of 800 pounds, this turbofan engine is intended to add to the missile's propulsion supply base rather than displace it. The companies involved in the development of the F143 engine have described it as a key component in the US Air Force's effort to expand its standoff-strike inventory.

The JASSM missile system currently uses two different engines: the Williams International F107-WR-105 turbofan for the AGM-158B JASSM-ER and the Teledyne CAE J402-CA-100 turbojet for the baseline AGM-158A. The addition of the F143 engine will provide a second source of propulsion for the JASSM, reducing reliance on a single engine type.

## Engine Development and Testing GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions began working together on the F143 engine in 2023, with funding provided by a combination of internal investment and support from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Since then, the joint team has completed more than 50 engine starts during ground testing at Kratos and GE Aerospace facilities. Altitude testing was also conducted in 2025 at Purdue University's Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories.

The development of the F143 engine is part of a broader effort by the US Air Force to expand its standoff-strike inventory. In April 2026, the service issued a request for information for a low-cost cruise missile, with plans to buy 1,000 to 2,000 units per year. This new missile system will sit alongside more expensive weapons such as the JASSM-ER and the AGM-158 XR.

## Expanding Engine Capabilities The F143 engine is the smallest of three engines that GE Aerospace is developing for uncrewed and expendable platforms. The company is also working on the 1,500-pound-thrust GEK1500 and the medium-thrust GE426. In February 2026, GE Aerospace and Kratos received a $12.4 million US Air Force contract for the preliminary design of the GEK1500, and in May 2026, GE Aerospace won a separate award to take the GE426 through preliminary design review.

The following table summarizes the key characteristics of the engines being developed by GE Aerospace for uncrewed platforms: | Engine | Thrust | | --- | --- | | GEK800 (F143) | 800 pounds | | GEK1500 | 1,500 pounds | | GE426 | medium thrust |