A subsidiary of aerospace defense contractor Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. won a $21.7 million order to deliver jet-powered aerial drones to the U.S. Air Force.
This contract for 17 Kratos aircraft follows the U.S. Navy ordering more drone aircraft last month in a $49.6 million award.
“Kratos’ affordable target systems provide an incredibly high-performance-to-cost ratio and key, high-performance and threat-representative capabilities to support USAF training and test needs," said Steve Fendley, president of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, in a news release.
San Diego-based Kratos (Nasdaq: KTOS) subsidiary Kratos Unmanned Systems Division announced Tuesday it won the contract for drones it builds in Sacramento.
"We have shared a great partnership and team approach with the USAF throughout our nearly 20 years of working together on target systems. Kratos is excited that our system maturity warrants and enables the long-term contract and proud that the Air Force has this confidence in our target systems and personnel," Fendley said in the release.
The total contract value if the options for Air Force drones and spares are all exercised at the maximum production quantities is $374 million.
The armed services use the target drones to practice shooting down advanced subsonic cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles and other munitions.
Kratos ranks sixth on the Business Journal’s list of largest manufacturers in the Sacramento area, with about 450 local employees. It has local manufacturing in Sacramento County, at McClellan Park, and an engineering division in Roseville.
Some of the target drones Kratos builds can fly at just under the speed of sound at altitudes from 7 feet over sea level to 40,000 feet. The drones don't land. Rather, they parachute back to earth for reuse.
Kratos’ Sacramento operations received nearly $50 million in orders for tactical drones in 2022.
