US aerospace firm launches new jet engine to power next-gen loyal wingman drones
Honeywell Aerospace has revealed its HON6000 high-performance turbofan engine, which is primarily designed to power uncrewed platforms, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
CCAs are expected to transform aerial combat by acting as “loyal wingmen” capable of drawing fire away from crewed aircraft, performing reconnaissance, and conducting electronic warfare.
The aircraft must be affordable and scalable, as they will perform high-risk operations to keep human pilots out of the line of fire.
HON6000 engine to provide CCAs with ‘optimum performance’
CCAs require propulsion systems that are efficient, reliable, and affordable to meet the CCA requirements of the U.S. Air Force. Honeywell’s new HON6000 engine was designed specifically to meet the requirements of such an aircraft operating in a conflict zone. Separately, it will power light combat aircraft and advanced jet trainers.
In a press statement, the company said the HON6000 is based on its proven engine architecture. This means it features the highest power-to-weight ratio in its thrust class, Honeywell noted, allowing for “optimum performance in demanding kinetic environments.”
The firm claims that the HON6000 provides the thrust, responsiveness, and durability required for medium-sized CCAs. It will allow autonomous aircraft to “maintain formation, timing, and mission discipline” while flying alongside crewed fighters.
The new engine adds to Honeywell’s existing engine portfolio, which includes the SKYSHOT1600 engine designed for smaller CCA platforms.
Reducing risk for human pilots
Honeywell also noted that the HON6000 engine’s affordability makes it well-suited for CCA aircraft, which will be seen as more expendable than fighter jets. These uncrewed aircraft will ultimately help to keep fighter pilots safer while drawing away fire and heat-seeking missiles. They will also perform high-risk reconnaissance and other operations, reducing risk for real pilots.
“The HON6000’s cost low is central to its value proposition,” the company wrote in its statement. “Honeywell’s focus on low acquisition and ownership cost makes the HON6000 well-suited for attritible, high-risk operations at scale.”
According to Honeywell, the HON6000 engine incorporates proven technologies used in approximately 150,000 turbine propulsion engines and auxiliary power units, leveraging a legacy spanning 50 years.
Part of the Next-Generation Air Dominance family, CCAs aim to perform missions including air-to-air combat, strikes, electronic warfare, and reconnaissance, while protecting pilots and expanding capacity at lower cost.
The US Air Force selected General Atomics and Anduril for Increment 1 of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program on April 24, 2024. The two companies have performed flight testing, weapons integration, and AI autonomy validation on their CCA prototype aircraft—the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, respectively. The Air Force is targeting operational capability for CCAs by the decade’s end, with plans for up to 1,000 active units.
