How will CCAs fly? The engines driving the next generation of combat drones
September 28, 2025
Modern warfare activities call for powerful and seamless interaction between humans and machines. Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) are uncrewed, autonomous vehicles that operate alongside crewed fighters, offering flexibility and efficiency across a range of missions.
Depending on the type of mission, CCAs are powered by next-generation engines that enable high performance and reliability across multiple combat domains.
CCAs will provide ‘affordable mass’ to modern air forces
The primary purpose of modern combat aircraft is to achieve air superiority. While conventional fighters are expensive to develop and operate, CCAs can be developed at one-third of the cost.
By combining AI-based software and virtual training, the costs of operating and maintaining CCAs can be significantly reduced.
Flying alongside crewed aircraft, these technologically advanced vehicles will take actions from human pilots and operate in a network of dispersed locations. Mission-specific equipment, such as sensors, targeting systems, and warfare pods, ensures autonomy and combat superiority.
Apart from executing strategic missions, CCAs will protect human pilots at a much lower cost than existing platforms. A tactical combat fleet comprising both crewed and uncrewed aircraft is essential for the future of air superiority.
What engines will CCAs use?
Engine manufacturing giants like GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, and Honeywell are leading the way in the development of small-thrust-class engines to power future CCAs.
Leveraging smart materials and additive manufacturing techniques, next-generation propulsion systems will feature highly scalable and cost-efficient architectures.
GE Aerospace and Kratos have partnered to develop an expandable engine to power a range of platforms, including cruise missiles, powered weapons, and CCA drones.
The 1500-lbf thrust turbofan engine, dubbed GEK1500, will overcome the inferior performance of comparable turbojets while elevating scalability and affordability.
Pratt & Whitney is developing a family of small turbofan engines to power futuristic low-cost cruise missiles, munitions, and CCAs. Originally designed for commercial aircraft applications, these engines are scalable from 500 lbf to 1,800 lbf, and can deliver exceptional manoeuvrability and range for combat missions.
Jill Albertelli, the president of the military engines division at Pratt & Whitney, stated,
“For unmanned applications, our commercial-off-the-shelf engines can offer an up to 20% increase in their qualified thrust capability. This means that we can deliver increased performance from these production engines. Ultimately, this will allow for reduced cost and weight for multiple applications.”
The prototype is undergoing a series of tests to confirm its viability on CCAs. Built using additive manufacturing, these engines meet cost, schedule, and maintenance targets for military operations.
Engine makers leaning into developments for CCAs
With the actual scope of CCA still unknown, engine manufacturers aim to offer a range of engine capabilities to their customers.
The Aerospace Technologies division at Honeywell recently unveiled a small-thrust-class engine, the HON1600, designed for unmanned aerial aircraft applications.
Using advanced materials and cost-effective manufacturing methods, the HON1600 architecture supports both turbojet and turbofan platforms. The company focuses on the design and integration of low-cost propulsive systems for manned-unmanned aircraft applications.
Rolls-Royce is developing a family of small twin-spool engines, known as Orpheus, to power a variety of future combat systems. Drawing on existing defense architectures, the Orpheus family will offer fuel-efficient engines that are inexpensive and can be rapidly scaled.
Rolls-Royce claims that the use of Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) and enhanced functional capabilities can cut the development time in half compared to traditional practices.
The first twin-spool demonstrator was designed, built, and tested in just 18 months while utilising only a third of the engineering resources typically required. As aviation technologies mature, aircraft and engine manufacturers are leaning into a new chapter of aerial warfare.
