Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. opened a new propulsion manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on November 16, 2023, to accelerate production of its Spartan family of turbojet engines. The move addresses increasing U.S. defense demand for scalable, affordable air power solutions.

The 22,500-square-foot facility houses office space, production lines, assembly areas, and a multi-station test cell. Kratos states the site supports concurrent manufacturing of all four spartan engine types, with a capacity exceeding 50,000 units annually. Breaking Defense reported this capacity is designed to meet the needs of emerging unmanned and manned-unmanned teaming efforts.

Shifting Defense manufacturing Priorities

Kratos’ approach to engine production prioritizes “producibility and cost right from the start,” a departure from the customary defense industry model of prioritizing performance first. As Kratos CEO Kevin M. Song stated, this strategy is a key differentiator. Defense One highlighted this emphasis on cost-effectiveness as crucial for meeting the demands of modern warfare.

This shift aligns with the Department of Defense’s (DoD) move towards distributed airpower, leveraging autonomous and expendable platforms. The Spartan turbojet engines are being integrated into various U.S. and allied programs, including target drones, attritable strike aircraft, and next-generation missile concepts. Air & Space Forces Magazine detailed the growing role of Kratos in this evolving landscape.

The Spartan Engine Family: Specifications

The Spartan engine family comprises four primary models, each designed for specific applications. Here’s a breakdown of key specifications:

Meeting Pacing Threats with Scalable Systems

the auburn Hills facility is part of a broader trend in defense manufacturing focused on fielding scalable systems in high volumes to counter “pacing threats” – primarily China and