Boeing taps J85 turbojet engine to push 500-pound weapon past 300 nautical miles

Boeing has lined up a U.S.-made turbojet for its new long-range precision weapon, giving Kratos Defense & Security Solutions a production role in the JDAM LR program. Kratos will use expanded Spartan engine capacity to supply its TDI-J85 turbojet for the weapon. The program recently received a $75 million U.S. Air Force award to begin acquiring the BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Unit. JDAM LR pairs a 500-pound-class payload with a range exceeding 300 nautical miles. Adding a turbojet could give the munition a far greater reach than traditional glide-based weapons. The engine selection also puts Kratos’ Auburn Hills facility on a path toward higher-rate tactical propulsion manufacturing. Turbojet powers extended reach The J85 belongs to Kratos’ Spartan family of small turbojet engines. Kratos had originally designed the engine around applications that included a weapon like JDAM LR. That earlier work now gives Boeing an existing propulsion option for the program. Kratos can focus on scaling production instead of developing a new engine for the munition. Steve Fendley, president of Kratos Unmanned Systems, said the company had already invested in manufacturing capacity and its supply chain. “National security priorities demand affordable mass and resilient, domestic supply chains,” Fendley said. He added that Kratos has already begun manufacturing propulsion systems at higher volumes. Those investments reflect growing Pentagon interest in weapons that combine range with production scale. Advanced munitions offer little advantage if manufacturers cannot build enough of them. Michigan facility ramps up Kratos will build the J85 at its 22,500-square-foot propulsion manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The facility has completed its transition into operational production, according to Kratos. It now supports full-rate manufacturing of the company’s propulsion systems. Joseph Kovasity, senior vice president of Kratos TDI, said the Auburn Hills operation marks a shift beyond engine development. The facility now focuses on producing tactical propulsion systems at scale. “Integrating the Spartan turbojet family into Boeing’s JDAM LR program provides a reliable, scalable, domestically sourced propulsion solution,” Kovasity said. Kratos has also started securing long-lead components for a larger Spartan engine production run planned for 2027. That effort covers several customers and applications, with Boeing’s JDAM LR program among the key planned uses. Ordering components early could help Kratos avoid supply bottlenecks as production demand grows. Production plans look ahead Higher production volumes could also reduce engine costs through economies of scale. That becomes especially important for weapons designed to deliver precision strike capability in larger numbers. Kratos is expanding beyond the Auburn Hills production line through a three-phase manufacturing infrastructure plan. The company wants additional capacity ready before new orders create immediate production pressure. That strategy could prove important as the Defense Department seeks greater domestic engine manufacturing capacity. J85 offers a U.S.-built propulsion system for a munition designed to strike targets more than 300 nautical miles away. JDAM LR could become an important test of Kratos’ ability to turn an established engine design into a high-volume production program. How quickly that happens will depend on Boeing’s production schedule and future Air Force decisions. Kratos is already ramping up for a much larger run. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.