Aviation Engines, Propulsion & Auxiliary Power Units

DENVER - Beehive Industries has been awarded a $29.7 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to complete vehicle integration, flight testing and qualification of the company’s 200-pound-thrust Frenzy 8 lightweight turbojet engine.

The award also includes funding to advance the 100-pound-thrust Frenzy 6 turbojet, beginning with the manufacturing of a first engine to test asset and options for further testing, vehicle integration and flight demonstration.

The award, managed through the SOSSEC consortium, supports a small expendable turbine prototyping effort led by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. The engine program is part of the Air Force strategy to acquire low-cost, disposable jet engines for uncrewed aerial systems and standoff systems.

Beehive uses additive manufacturing to produce low-cost jet engines at high speed. Its Frenzy engine is specifically designed for mass-produced munitions and swarm-class drones.

During the past year, Beehive validated the Frenzy 8 engine through ground and high-altitude testing while demonstrating scalability. Amid ongoing ground testing, Beehive said it has validated its plan to begin mass production of engines this year.

Source: Beehive Industries

MUNICH -- MTU Aero Engines has acquired AeroDesignWorks GmbH, a Cologne-based developer of drone propulsion technology. AeroDesignWorks will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of MTU. The acquisition expands MTU’s product portfolio to include propulsion solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and modern guided missile systems.

AeroDesignWorks, spun off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in 2011, employs approximately 40 people and specializes in turbojet engines with thrusts up to 400 newtons. The company has delivered engines for a range of defense programs and is developing propulsion solutions for larger UAVs and missile systems across national and European projects. MTU said the acquisition will allow AeroDesignWorks to scale production and leverage MTU’s industrial expertise in engine development and manufacturing.

MTU, which supplies engines for military platforms including the Eurofighter, Tornado, CH-53K and Tiger helicopters, and the A400M transport aircraft, is exploring growth in autonomous and high-precision aerospace systems. The company also operates eMoSys, a subsidiary focused on electric propulsion for autonomous flight. MTU indicated the acquisition strengthens its role in European defense technology and supports the broader goal of advancing regional technological independence.

AeroDesignWorks will maintain legal independence as a subsidiary while benefiting from MTU’s development and production capabilities. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Why it matters: The acquisition positions MTU to expand its footprint in the rapidly growing UAV and guided missile markets, enabling the company to offer more integrated propulsion solutions to European defense programs. It also reflects broader European efforts to strengthen domestic aerospace capabilities amid shifting geopolitical priorities.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://www.mtu.de

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Europe's mini jet engine makers are racing to expand production to meet surging Ukrainian demand for deep-strike drones, but a supply crunch is already threatening to constrain Kyiv's long-range strike capabilities at a pivotal moment in the war. A Ukrainian defense industry source told Reuters the engine shortage was "probably the main factor limiting the number of missile drones produced," while Maria Popova, COO of the Ukrainian Council of Defense Industry, confirmed that supply "remains constrained both globally and, more acutely, within Ukraine."

Mini turbojet engines, which are typically less than 12 inches in diameter and built from lightweight materials including titanium alloys and 3D-printed components, can power drones to speeds of up to 486 knots, far faster than propeller-driven models and far cheaper than cruise missiles. Ukraine relies on a small group of European suppliers, including Czech-based PBS Group, Germany's JetCat and Netherlands-based Destinus, while Russia sources some engines from China. Large manufacturers such as GE Aerospace and Rolls-Royce have largely stayed out of the segment, focusing on more profitable fighter-jet engines.

PBS Group, one of the few established producers at the start of the war, has increased production five-fold since 2023 and expects to reach eight-fold growth by year's end, with its chief global officer describing capacities as "stretched to the limits." ZofiTech produces roughly 200 engines a month, nearly all of which go to Ukraine, and expects demand "to reach thousands in the coming months." Czech defense group CSG, which acquired Serbian manufacturer Must Solutions in November, aims to produce about 1,000 turbojet engines in 2026, with roughly 35% destined for Ukraine.

Experts warn that structural barriers are slowing the ramp-up. Companies are reluctant to scale manufacturing without large government orders, which keeps the supply chain tight. Some Ukrainian drone makers are developing in-house engines to reduce supplier dependence, and engineers are testing a low-cost pulsejet engine known as the Hrim-17.

Source: Reuters
Associated URL: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraines-attack-drone-fleet-faces-mini-jet-engine-supply-crunch-2026-04-07/