The new GE426 will be larger than the 1,500lb-thrust GEK1500, which is being separately developed in partnership with Kratos.
Jet engine manufacturer GE Aerospace has secured funding from the US Air Force (USAF) to advance development of a new medium thrust-class turbofan intended to power uncrewed fighter aircraft.
The new GE426 will produce 4,000-6,000lb-thrust (17.8-26.7kN), although the company tells FlightGlobal it will be capable of putting out as much as 8,000-9,000lb-thrust. That output places the GE426 in the category of medium-sized Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) being developed for the USAF.
Under the contract announced on 19 May, GE will mature the GE426 prototype engine through a preliminary design review and further refine the industrial plan for assembling and delivering the new powerplant.
The company says it already completed a concept design review of the GE426 in August 2025, validating the engine’s architecture and basic design with the air force.
GE Aerospace is separately engaged in another effort to develop a small class of CCA turbofans falling between 800- and 1,500lb-thrust. Those engines, including the GEK800 and GEK1500, are being developed via a joint venture with US defence manufacturer Kratos.
“We’ve proven we can rapidly move from concept to engine demonstration with the GEK800, and our focus now is on applying that process to the GE426 to ensure it provides the performance, affordability and readiness the warfighter needs,” says Steve Russell, general manager of the Edison Works advanced projects unit at GE Aerospace.
The company did not disclose the value of the contract.
In February, the USAF also awarded the GE-Kratos team a contract to fund fabrication and testing of the GEK1500.
Rival Honeywell Aerospace was simultaneously awarded its own development contract for the SkyShot1600 engine, which also falls into the light class of CCA powerplants.
Honeywell already has an active production engine falling into the medium-thrust CCA class. The company’s F124 turbofan delivers 6,300lb-thrust and currently powers seven fighter types, including the Leonardo M-346 trainer and light-attack jet.
The USAF is currently flight testing two finalists to be its first CCA: the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems YFQ-42A and Anduril Industries YFQ-44A. Both fall into the light class of autonomous fighters.
Development of a second increment of CCAs is also planned, which will include both light- and medium-sized jets.
The availability of low-cost, high production-rate jet engines within those two size categories is crucial to meeting the Pentagon’s goals of affordability and mass for the CCA programme.
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