Kratos to supply J85 engines for Boeing JDAM LR program

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is expanding production of its Spartan J85 turbojet engines to support Boeing’s Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range (JDAM LR) program. The engine will power the BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Unit, a kit that converts 500-pound class bombs into precision-guided munitions capable of traveling more than 300 nautical miles.

The production move follows a $75 million Undefinitized Contract Action awarded by the U.S. Air Force to Boeing to begin acquiring these units. Kratos has already started ordering long-lead components to prepare for a large production run in 2027. The J85 engine, which produces up to 200 pounds of thrust, will be manufactured at Kratos’ 22,500-square-foot propulsion facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Boeing noted that the contract structure allows work to begin before final terms are negotiated. The program aims to provide the U.S. Navy and Air Force with affordable, mass-producible weapons that offer significantly greater range than traditional glide-based munitions.