Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., a technology company in the defense, national security, and global markets, announced that it had developed, tested and delivered turbomachinery supporting the development of Lockheed Martin’s advanced ramjet propulsion system.
Kratos had designed a compact, turbomachinery solution that had harnessed ram air energy to support propulsion system operations. This self-regulating design had provided a size and weight solution compared to alternative approaches, contributing to the overall performance and affordability objectives of the program. Before integration into the propulsion system, Kratos had completed a comprehensive standalone turbomachinery test campaign to validate operating points, component durability, and performance.
The validation of Kratos’ turbomachinery had contributed to the broader propulsion system’s testing, which had validated the propulsion system’s readiness to advance toward flight testing. Representatives from Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army’s Aviation and Missile Center were present to witness the propulsion system test, which demonstrated that the missile’s core propulsion was a validated capability ready to support near-term fielding plans.
“Kratos is a leader in propulsion technology, dedicated to the rapid development, demonstration and deployment of innovative solutions,” said Stacey Rock, President of Kratos Turbine Technologies. “Our philosophy is to collaborate with industry leaders who share our mission of delivering cutting-edge technologies and capabilities to market quickly and cost-effectively. This opportunity with Lockheed Martin has been highly successful and represents a cornerstone of our long-term strategic initiatives.”
Kratos had continued to invest in technology and infrastructure to support its growing family of turbomachinery products for advanced propulsion applications. At Kratos, affordability had been a stated focus, and the company’s internally funded research, development, and capital investments had enabled delivery of propulsion solutions for defense applications.
