The US Air Force has awarded Beehive Industries a $29.7-million contract to advance the development and testing of compact jet engines designed for expendable drones and mass-produced munitions.
Under the agreement, the company will complete integration, flight testing, and qualification of its Frenzy 8 engine while continuing development of the Frenzy 6 variant.
The effort includes building a First Engine to Test unit and expanding flight demonstrations.
Beehive’s Frenzy engine family uses additive manufacturing to reduce production time and simplify supply chains compared to traditional turbine manufacturing.
The company has already conducted ground and high-altitude testing of Frenzy 8 as it moves toward early production readiness, according to program updates.
Scalable Propulsion
Frenzy 8 is intended for small cruise missiles and uncrewed aerial systems designed for swarm operations.
Frenzy 6, meanwhile, is aimed at lighter platforms where cost and production speed are prioritized over endurance.
Both engines fall under the Small Expendable Turbine program, which focuses on additive manufacturing to shorten production timelines and reduce reliance on traditional supply chains.
The approach is intended to enable rapid scaling of propulsion systems for sustained operations.
The effort aligns with the US Department of Defense push toward high-volume, lower-cost munitions under the Family of Affordable Mass Munitions framework, which prioritizes scalable, expendable systems for future conflicts.
