Beehive Industries was initially a extra generalized service earlier than specializing in manufacturing its personal parts. The trail to get there was not a simple one; the corporate laid off round 18% of employees in July 2023, obtained a $12 million Air Power engine printing contract in October 2024, and in March 2025 obtained a contract by the System of Methods Consortium (SOSSEC), which manages fast acquisition initiatives for the US Division of Protection, with the Air Power Life Cycle Administration Heart. Now the corporate is delving deeper into Unmanned Aerial Automobile (UAV) propulsion by engaged on the 200 lbf Frenzy engine.
The corporate examined 4 completely different additively made engines, every iterated inside six weeks. With a complete of 20 hours of runtime, the corporate is optimistic that it’ll meet the necessities. After this, they wish to work on altitude testing and hope to do flight testing in 2026. The engine fashions are small, measuring 12 to twenty cm, with 100 to 300 lbf of thrust and weighing round 6.8 to 16 kilos. This fills a niche in US engine manufacturing capability and stock, with bigger, extra advanced engines broadly accessible, however extra compact engines being comparatively uncommon. These sorts of engines might be utilized by missiles, new kinds of lighter cruise missiles, or many drones. If the US had been to enter right into a battle, particularly a protracted one, many hundreds of those engines could be wanted. Ukraine at present produces 5 million small drones per yr and desires to supply round 300,000 long-distance drones per yr as effectively. The US at present can not match that stage of manufacturing.
3D printed Frenzy engine. Picture courtesy of Beehive Industries.
For the extra advanced, increased worth drones the US has in thoughts, the problem is much more pronounced. Industrial micro turbine producers are additionally not situated within the US. Beehive, due to this fact, might be taking a look at a very profitable contract and enterprise space if it continues its growth. Small, cost-effective engines have been an space neglected by Pratt and others. If Beehive can produce these items cost-effectively at scale, they are going to discover themselves coping with important contracts.
Chief Product Officer Gordie Follin said,
“Beehive’s fast development with the Frenzy engine household is a testomony to our crew’s experience and the transformative potential of additive manufacturing.These check outcomes exceed our expectations and reinforce our mission to supply the U.S. army with reasonably priced, high-performance propulsion programs that may be deployed at scale. We’re proud to collaborate with UDRI and the U.S. Air Power to push the boundaries of aerospace innovation.”
3D printed engine. Picture courtesy of Beehive Industries.
Their work with the College of Dayton Analysis Institute (UDRI) is certain to offer them an edge as effectively. The analysis institute repeatedly works on Small Enterprise Innovation Analysis (SBIR) and different revolutionary authorities initiatives in additive for engines and extra. Along with the Frenzy, the corporate is engaged on many extra engines for bigger craft with its Rampart engine. Ideally, in fact, the corporate can shortly adapt a design to new particular wants or change manufacturing between engine varieties and sizes. To a sure extent, it might be simpler for them to make many extra variants of an engine with the identical R&D prices. Beehive can also be aiming for affordability. Given the various legacy engines in use and the loss of life of ample engines for interceptor drones, and long-range, reasonably priced bomber-type drones, there’s a actual want right here. In actual fact, I might say that this lack of selection and availability is a important weak spot within the US arsenal. Related engines is also used for missiles and Patriot sort functions, and might be used of their hundreds if wanted.
Beehive Industries is sitting on an absolute goldmine in the event that they pull this off. They’re lively in a comparatively new market with few dependable choices. It’s US-based and makes use of GE 3D printers with an skilled crew (usually additionally Ex-GE). Given the various benefits that additive manufacturing gives in weight discount, higher stream, half consolidation, lowered meeting, higher buy-to-fly, and extra, there’s a actual alternative right here to make extra margin and be cheaper for the tip buyer. With a extra versatile design and manufacturing, the corporate may have an actual edge. That might let it tackle the massive engine makers or certainly grow to be one.
Subscribe to Our Electronic mail Publication
Keep up-to-date on all the newest information from the 3D printing business and obtain info and gives from third social gathering distributors.
Add your 3D Fashions and get them printed shortly and effectively.
