Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), a technology company in defense, national security, and global markets, today announced major advancements in its turbojet technology. Highlighting these achievements are the recent successful flight tests of the TDI-J85 (J85) engine across multiple configurations, including Lugged Launch, Palletized, and Surface-to-Surface applications.
“Our successful flight tests across diverse deployment methods prove the versatility and reliability of the TDI-J85 engine,” said Joseph Kovasity, Senior Vice President of Kratos TDI. “By pairing this operational success with a fully functional, high-rate manufacturing capability, we are transforming how the industry approaches affordable propulsion. Kratos’ recent 3,000-engine component order for 2027 production and our path to 10,000+ engines annually by 2029 demonstrate our commitment to delivering mass and capability to the warfighter at an unprecedented scale.”
The J85 engine is engineered for maximum flexibility and the highest performance in the class with respect to high altitude start, reliability, and most importantly, efficiency which translates directly to more mission time/range and probability of success for low-cost cruise missiles, decoys, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The recent flight test successes validate its capability across three distinct operational concepts:
- Lugged Launch: Demonstrating seamless integration and reliable ignition from standard rail or zero-length launchers.
- Palletized Launch: Validating compatibility with cargo-aircraft-deployed rapid-launch systems.
- Surface-to-Surface: Proving rapid-start performance and high-acceleration capabilities required for containerized munition applications.
Simultaneously, the Kratos Spartan engine family is taking a central role in supporting multiple next-generation defense development programs. Designed for affordability and high-volume manufacturability, the Spartan engine provides a crucial solution for flexible deployment.
Kratos recently announced significant scale-up operations for its Kratos Spartan engine line to support a surge in development and production programs, placing long-lead orders for components to build 3,000+ engines in 2027 to meet rising demand. Kratos’ Spartan engine manufacturing facility is fully operational, positioning the company to produce up to 10,000+ engines per year by 2029. This rapid scaling addresses the urgent Department of War (DoW) demand for high-performance, low-cost, mass-producible propulsion systems.
Eric DeMarco, Kratos President and CEO, said, “Kratos’ Spartan Family of small turbojet engines for low-cost jet drones and cruise missiles is a recent example of the success of our strategy to make the internally funded investments necessary to deliver technology rich national security systems, products, hardware, and software at the right time, with the key performance, and in the high quantities demanded to rebuild the U.S. defense inventory. Kratos is focused on working with customers that want production-ready products now, as we work with the Department of Warfor the rebuild and reindustrialization of United States National Security capabilities.”