US engine maker Pratt & Whitney is launching a new line of small turbofans to power the burgeoning category of uncrewed tactical jets known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs).
P&W revealed the initiative on 22 September, noting the powerplants will be in the 500-1,800lb (2.2-8.0kN)-thrust range.
Jill Albertelli, president of P&W’s military engines business, says the development effort will prioritise affordability and speed to market.
“The scalability of the architecture, the commonality across models and the use of additive manufacturing will allow us to significantly reduce development and production timelines as we look at existing and future applications with customers,” says Albertelli.
RTX subsidiary P&W is planning a series of test in early 2026 to “validate key design features” of the engine concept, which is to be available to both domestic and international customers.
The move follows a similar foray into realm of small, low-cost turbofans made by P&W’s chief rival GE Aerospace.
GE in 2024 partnered with uncrewed aircraft developer Kratos to advance a line of GEK turbofans intended to be sized and priced to support the CCA concept, which involves hundreds or thousands of the comparatively inexpensive jets eventually working alongside costly fifth- and sixth-generation fighters.
At the 2025 Paris air show in June, Kratos and GE revealed the initial powerplant developed under that partnership, the GEK 800, which is to be assembled in Oklahoma.
That turbofan will have a target thrust output of 800lbs, with a lifespan in the hundreds of cycles, versus a 2,000-10,000-cycle life for conventional jet engines.
