Beehive Industries Secures $12.46M Contract to Advance Affordable Jet Propulsion with UDRI — sponsored by the U.S. Air Force

DENVER, October 29, 2024 — Beehive Industries®, an American manufacturing company revolutionizing jet propulsion for uncrewed aerial defense applications, was awarded a $12.46M contract to collaborate on the development and production of low-cost Small Expendable Turbine (SET) engines with the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) and the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The contract is to develop a 200 lb. thrust class engine using innovative additive manufacturing methods and covers design, manufacture, test, and qualification of the engine including demonstration of manufacturing scalability, completion of flight testing, and an initial production run of 30 engines. The program will be completed within 24 months and work will be performed in Beehive’s Cincinnati, Denver, and Knoxville facilities.

Earlier this year, Beehive announced the successful test completion of their 500 lb. thrust engine as part of their strategy to develop a family of engines ranging from 100–5,000 lbs. of thrust for a variety of applications including drones, standoff systems, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. This program will enable Beehive to build on that success and apply its additively-enabled design and manufacturing processes directly in support of the need for capable, affordable, and readily available propulsion systems.

“Beehive is excited to have this opportunity to bring its capabilities to bear on the affordable mass challenge for the US military in collaboration with the University of Dayton Research Institute” said Gordie Follin, Chief Product Officer for the company. “Our state-of-the-art additive manufacturing approach opens up new possibilities to radically alter the traditional relationships between cost, performance, and scalability while delivering high performance engines purpose built for their applications.”

Brian Stitt, Division Head for Sustainment Technologies Transition at UDRI, said the Research Institute team is excited to be in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office and Beehive Industries to progress additive manufacturing in the aerospace and propulsion fields. “This partnership will not only propel the Air Force but the additive industry as a whole, and we are proud to be a major part of it!” Stitt said.

Beehive Industries is a US-based manufacturing company specializing in the design and development of jet engines for uncrewed aerial defense applications as well as parts manufacture across high technology industries. Beehive employs more than 200 people and is committed to powering American defense through advanced manufacturing and innovative offerings.

The University of Dayton Research Institute is a driving force in the research, development and field transition of new and emerging technologies. With a passion founded on our core values — unbound innovation, dedication, respect for all, integrity and empowering others — we work in sync with our partners to elevate innovation to new heights, exceeding their goals for today and anticipating their needs of tomorrow. That is the Power of the Institute.

The Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO), a Division of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Combat Readiness Directorate, accelerates game-changing capabilities that sustain a modern Air Force. By exploiting new and emerging technologies, the RSO delivers sustainment and maintenance solutions at the speed of need to maximize warfighter readiness. Learn more at https://www.aflcmc.af.mil/RSO