Honeywell SkyShot CCA Engine Wins USAF Support

COLORADO SPRINGS—Honeywell has received a prototype design contract from the U.S. Air Force’s Propulsion Directorate for its SkyShot 1600, a new small engine targeting the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) market.

Initially announced in September and originally called the HON1600, the new engine “supports thrust levels from 800 to 2,800 lb.,” Honeywell says. The company adds that the design can be configured as either a turbojet or turbofan, “with scalability for additional thrust as required.”

Announcing the contract award at the Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium, in Aurora, Colorado, Honeywell says the engine is being designed for operations up to 40,000 ft. and high G capability to reach maneuvering targets. Few other details of the SkyShot have been revealed, although a concept released by the company shows the turbofan version with a fan stage configured with 18 wide chord blisked fan blades.

Honeywell, which said in 2025 that a core engine has already been demonstrated at rated thrust, is also widening the addressable power range of the new engine venture by around 1,200 lb.-thrust, having originally targeted the HON1600 at the 800 lb.-1,600 lb.-thrust range.

For its CCA initiative, Honeywell aims to leverage large-scale production and supply chain experience gained with its commercial auxiliary power unit (APU) business. Around 2,500 Honeywell APUs are currently produced every year.