Kratos Expands U.S. Jet Engine Production Footprint with New Advanced Manufacturing Facility, Test Cells in Bristow, Oklahoma
New 50,000-Square-Foot Facility, Located on 20 acres, is Expected to Expand to 100,000 Square Feet and House up to Five GEK Engine Production Lines
PARIS, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), a Technology Company in the Defense, National Security and Global Markets, today announced plans to open a new advanced manufacturing facility in Bristow, Oklahoma to produce its GEK (GE Aerospace-Kratos) family of turbojet engines, with an initial focus on the GEK800.
The announcement was made during the Oklahoma Breakfast in Paris ahead of the 2025 Paris Air Show, with Kratos CEO Eric DeMarco, Kratos Turbine Technologies (KTT) President Stacey Rock, and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt in attendance.
Kratos’ Manufacturing Facility in Bristow, OK
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a4ebe75a-615b-47a4-8aa8-e516fc918ea9
The 50,000-square-foot facility, located on 20 acres, is expected to expand to 100,000 square feet and house up to five GEK engine production lines and initial output of 500 engines annually, supporting thrust classes from 600 to 6000 pounds. Occupancy is expected in mid-2026, with operations fully ramped by Q4 2026.
The facility will include three small engine (200-2000 lbf thrust) test cells, which are expected to be operational in 2027, thanks to approved grant funding from the State of Oklahoma.
The initial engine line is expected to create 60 high-quality jobs at the site, with key positions beginning recruitment in late 2025 and general hiring in Q1 2026. Each additional production line is expected to add approximately 45 new jobs.
“This facility underscores Kratos’ strategy of delivering affordable, high-performance, made-in-America propulsion systems at scale,” said Stacey Rock, President of Kratos Turbine Technologies. “Bristow will be a critical site for delivering mass to the mission and meeting the growing propulsion needs of our defense customers.”
The GE Aerospace – Kratos GEK800
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e3b6aad-8744-481a-8403-5f09bbe07759
Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, said, “This is a big win for American workers, for our military, and for every Oklahoman who believes in freedom, innovation, and strength. Kratos could’ve gone anywhere in the world, but they choose to continue investing in Oklahoma because it is the best place to build, grow, and do business. Oklahoma is proud to be a hub for national defense that is leading the way in rebuilding America’s industrial base and powering the technologies that keep our country safe.”
Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, said, “Kratos is truly honored to expand our presence in Oklahoma with this new, state-of-the-art propulsion production facility in Bristow. This new Kratos investment reflects our continued commitment to delivering high-performance, affordable jet engine technology to support the Department of Defense and our allies and answers the rising demand for propulsion systems for cruise missiles and CCA-type aircraft, while being targeted and optimized for cost reduction. The Bristow facility will play a critical role in accelerating production of the GEK family of engines, including the GEK800, and strengthening America's industrial base in this decisive era. We thank Governor Stitt and the State of Oklahoma for their partnership in helping us build the future of high-performance propulsion right here in the heartland.”
“Oklahoma is proud to be home to Kratos and all they do to provide cutting-edge defense technologies to our warfighters from target drones and unmanned combat aircraft to state-of-the-art turbine engines. Their investment in our state is an investment in our workforce, our warfighters, and our national security.” – Senator Markwayne Mullin
“Kratos’ expansion in Oklahoma is further proof that Oklahoma is a hub for innovative defense technology and high-quality manufacturing jobs. I am proud of all Kratos does day-to-day, providing our servicemembers with the best technology in the world, and ensuring our national security.” – Congressman Kevin Hern
“Kratos' decision to grow in Oklahoma highlights Oklahoma’s strong workforce and unwavering support for our nation’s defense mission. Kratos continues to excel and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this facility will have on our state and national security.” - Congressman Frank Lucas
About Kratos Defense & Security
Solutions
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions,
Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS) is a technology, products, system and software company
addressing the defense, national security, and commercial markets. Kratos
makes true internally funded research, development, capital and other
investments, to rapidly develop, produce and field solutions that address
our customers’ mission critical needs and requirements. At Kratos,
affordability is a technology, and we seek to utilize proven, leading-edge
approaches and technology, not unproven bleeding edge approaches or
technology, with Kratos’ approach designed to reduce cost, schedule and
risk, enabling us to be first to market with cost effective solutions. We
believe that Kratos is known as an innovative disruptive change agent in
the industry, a company that is an expert in designing products and systems
up front for successful rapid, large quantity, low-cost future
manufacturing which is a value add competitive differentiator for our large
traditional prime system integrator partners and also to our government and
commercial customers. Kratos intends to pursue program and contract
opportunities as the prime or lead contractor when we believe that our
probability of win (PWin) is high and any investment required by Kratos is
within our capital resource comfort level. We intend to partner and team
with a large, traditional system integrator when our assessment of PWin is
greater or required investment is beyond Kratos’ comfort level. Kratos’
primary business areas include virtualized ground systems for satellites
and space vehicles including software for command & control (C2) and
telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C), jet powered unmanned aerial
drone systems, hypersonic vehicles and rocket systems, propulsion systems
for drones, missiles, loitering munitions, supersonic systems, space craft
and launch systems, C5ISR and microwave electronic products for missile,
radar, missile defense, space, satellite, counter UAS, directed energy,
communication and other systems, and virtual & augmented reality
training systems for the warfighter. For more information, visit www.KratosDefense.com.
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain statements in this press release may
constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements
are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions
of the management of Kratos and are subject to significant risks and
uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any
such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to
update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Although Kratos believes that the expectations
reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these
statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these
forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those
expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to
the business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December 29, 2024, and in
subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with
the SEC by Kratos.
Press
Contact:
Claire Burghoff
claire.burghoff@kratosdefense.com
Investor
Information:
877-934-4687
investor@kratosdefense.com
