Honeywell Aerospace’s SkyShot 1600 has moved into Preliminary Design Review under the US Air Force’s Autonomous Collaborative Platform programme, advancing a propulsion option aimed at future collaborative combat aircraft and unmanned aerial systems. The low-thrust engine family is designed for high-altitude use, high-G manoeuvres and a thrust range from 800 to 2,800 lbf, with a modular architecture that can be configured as either a turbojet or a turbofan.
The programme milestone places the engine deeper into the Air Force’s evaluation process as the service assesses whether the design has reached sufficient maturity for more detailed development. Honeywell has positioned SkyShot 1600 as a flexible propulsion solution for autonomous military aircraft that must balance performance, range and cost across a wide set of mission profiles.
The core has already been tested across its nominal thrust range, according to the Spanish aviation report that first described the move. No site-specific testing details, procurement decision or schedule for further programme steps were disclosed in the available material.