Sweden's GKN Aerospace 3D-Prints a 1,000 km Range Turbojet Cruise Missile

A 3D-Printed Engine in Nine Months

Swedish aerospace company GKN Aerospace has built a compact turbojet engine entirely for a new long-range unmanned aircraft, and it did so in less than a year. The engine and the full-scale UAV mock-up were unveiled at The Armed Forces Air Venture 2026 at Malmen Air Base in Linkoping. The project, known as Project Otto, is funded by the Swedish Ministry of Defence and targets a 1,000 km range for a 100 kg payload.

Why Additive Manufacturing Matters Here

The turbojet engine makes extensive use of 3D printing. By printing engine components, GKN Aerospace simplifies production, reduces manufacturing time, and potentially scales output more easily than traditional machining. The engine contains no U.S. parts or technologies, which makes it ITAR-free. That detail matters for export control and for countries that want to avoid U.S. approval chains.

From Contract to Hardware Quickly

FMV, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, placed the contract in November 2025 with an 18-month target. By August 2026, the hardware was on display. GKN Aerospace pulled together propulsion work from Swedish Volvo Aero, airframe contributions from Dutch Fokker, and systems integration from its U.K. operations. The compressed timeline suggests the company prioritized rapid prototyping and functional demonstration over polished production readiness.

Range and Payload

The demonstrator is designed to carry 100 kg over 1,000 km or 300 kg over 600 km. Those figures place it closer to a cruise missile than a traditional surveillance drone. The first flight is expected no later than early 2027. The Swedish Ministry of Defence awarded GKN Aerospace a contract worth 150 million Swedish kronor, roughly $15.8 million.

Wider Implications

Project Otto arrives as Europe faces a shortage of small turbojet engines for long-range strike drones. Ukrainian forces already use long-range weapons, but scaling production depends partly on access to inexpensive, mass-produced miniature engines. An ITAR-free design could simplify technology transfers and licensing outside the United States. Sweden has also shown willingness to deepen defence-industrial cooperation with Ukraine, which could make Project Otto relevant beyond Swedish borders.