New 800-lb thrust turbofan engine selected for US Air Force JASSM cruise missile

The U.S. Air Force has just selected the F143 turbofan as a second-source engine for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), after the propulsion system successfully completed altitude testing last year. The engine was developed by California-based technology firm Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and Ohio-based aircraft engine supplier GE Aerospace. The two companies announced that their GEK800 engine received the U.S. Military Engine Type Designation F143-ZZ-100 on Monday, August 17. The engine also secured an Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) contract from the Air Force. It will be developed as a second-source propulsion system for JASSM. The move supports the Pentagon’s active push for affordable, mass-produced jet engines. “This reflects years of disciplined engineering to deliver propulsion systems that meet the evolving, mission-critical requirements of our military customers,” Amy Gowder, GE Aerospace Defense & Systems president and CEO, pointed out. A new missile turbofan The GEK800, now officially known under the name F143, is an 800-pound-thrust (3.56-kilonewton) turbofan engine for long-range missiles and other uncrewed applications. Engineers from both firms began working on it in 2023 as part of a Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) phase that included engine testing. For the project, they reportedly combined internal investment with support and funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Since the start, the team has completed more than 50 engine starts in ground tests at their facilities. A prototype of the GEK800 engine.Credit: GE Aerospace The engine also passed a huge milestone in October 2025, when the companies successfully completed altitude testing at Purdue University’s Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories. The testing started in late September. It then progressed through altitude trials and concluded with tests of the engine’s limits. At the time, Mark Rettig, GE Aerospace’s VP, praised the propulsion system’s performance and durability. “Our joint team successfully expanded the altitude testing envelope and identified the engine’s rotor speed limits and compressive system boundaries,” he explained. New propulsion for JASSM The novel engine will reportedly power cruise missiles, collaborative combat-type aircraft, and other uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVS). “The F143-ZZ-100 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,” Gowder noted. Meanwhile, Kratos CEO Eric DeMarco stated the companies are working with the U.S. Air Force to expand domestic jet engine production. They are also investing with government partners to boost manufacturing for drones, missiles, and other systems. “Kratos and GE Aerospace are making significant investments with our government partners, to support U.S. National Security priorities,” he added in a press release. The contract positions the F143 as a second-source engine for the JASSM instead of just replacing its existing propulsion system outright. The engine source could the missile program’s industrial base as demand for long-range weapons rises. That said, GE Aerospace boasts an installed base of about 49,000 commercial, as well as a total of 29,000 military aircraft engines. It additionally features a global team of approximately 53,000 employees and more than a century of experience in aerospace innovation. The company said it aims to shape the future of aviation through new technologies. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her work has appeared in Daily Mail, Mirror, Daily Star, Yahoo, NationalWorld, Newsweek, Press Gazette and others. She covers stories on batteries, wind energy, sustainable shipping and new discoveries. When she's not chasing the next big science story, she's traveling, exploring new cultures, or enjoying good food with even better wine.