Beehive Industries secures $12.46 million Air Force contract

Beehive Industries, a US-based manufacturing firm specializing in jet propulsion for uncrewed aerial defense, has been awarded a $12.46 million contract to collaborate with the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) and the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. This contract aims to develop a 200 lb.-thrust Small Expendable Turbine (SET) engine using advanced additive manufacturing techniques, emphasizing affordability, scalability, and high performance for U.S. defense applications.

According to VoxelMatters’ latest Aerospace AM report, this market sector was worth $1.6 billion in yearly revenues in 2023 and it is driven by applications – both revenues from parts produced by AM services and – even more so – the value generated by aerospace companies using AM internally. This AM vertical market sector, which comprises Aviation, Space and UAVs (both Civil and Defense) is projected to grow into a $20.5 billion yearly revenue opportunity by 2033.

“Beehive is excited to bring its capabilities to bear on the affordable mass challenge for the U.S. military in collaboration with the University of Dayton Research Institute,” stated Gordie Follin, Beehive’s Chief Product Officer. “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.”

This initiative represents a significant step in Beehive’s mission to innovate within the propulsion industry, featuring comprehensive development stages, including design, production, testing, and qualification of the engine. The work, set to conclude within 24 months, will culminate in a flight demonstration and an initial production run of 30 units at Beehive’s Cincinnati, Denver, and Knoxville facilities. The propulsion program leverages Beehive’s successful 500 lb.-thrust engine, tested earlier this year, as a foundational model for the development of a broad family of engines with thrust capabilities spanning 100–5,000 lbs., intended for diverse applications such as drones, standoff systems, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

Brian Stitt, Division Head for Sustainment Technologies Transition at UDRI, also expressed enthusiasm for the project. “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,” he remarked. Stitt underscored UDRI’s commitment to advancing additive manufacturing for aerospace and propulsion, which has potential to impact both military and commercial sectors.

This contract underscores Beehive’s role as a U.S.-based leader in manufacturing for uncrewed aerial systems and aligns with the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office’s objective to accelerate emerging sustainment and maintenance technologies. By combining innovative additive manufacturing methods with defense applications, the collaboration aims to achieve a more modern and readily deployable force for the U.S.