On February 20 2026, GE Aerospace announced it will supply propulsion expertise and engineering resources to Starfighters Space, Inc. for the next phase of the company’s STARLAUNCH I rocket program. The partnership, announced from Cape Canaveral, Florida, moves the rocket design into a Critical Design Review scheduled for the next two weeks.
GE Aerospace’s involvement marks the company’s first formal entry into the commercial space launch market. The firm will focus on developing upper‑stage engines for the STARLAUNCH I, leveraging its advanced combustion and materials technologies that have been honed in aircraft engine production. This move diversifies GE Aerospace’s portfolio beyond aircraft engines and positions it to tap a high‑growth, high‑margin sector of the space‑launch industry.
GE Aerospace reported strong financial results in Q4 2025, with revenue of $12.7 billion—an 18% year‑over‑year increase—and adjusted earnings per share of $1.57, beating consensus estimates. For the full year 2025, revenue reached $42.3 billion, up 21%, and adjusted EPS rose to $6.37, up 38%. Operating margins were 21.4% for the year and 19.2% in Q4, reflecting disciplined cost management amid investment in U.S. manufacturing. CEO H. Lawrence Culp, Jr. highlighted the company’s momentum and confidence in sustaining profitability while expanding into new markets.
Starfighters Space, publicly traded on the NYSE American under ticker FJET, operates a fleet of F‑104 supersonic aircraft used for air‑launching rockets and offers pilot and astronaut training as well as hypersonic testing services. The company’s financials show modest revenue and net losses in recent years, but its innovative business model and access to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center give it a unique position in the emerging small‑satellite launch niche.
The partnership opens a new revenue stream for GE Aerospace and strengthens its competitive position against established launch providers such as Rocket Lab, Astra, and Firefly. By applying its propulsion expertise to a commercial rocket, GE Aerospace can generate aftermarket service opportunities and enhance its long‑term moat. For Starfighters Space, the collaboration provides critical engineering support that could accelerate the STARLAUNCH I’s development and increase its chances of a successful first launch.
The announcement signals a strategic pivot for GE Aerospace toward the commercial space sector and a milestone for Starfighters Space’s rocket program. With the Critical Design Review slated for the next two weeks, both companies are poised to advance the STARLAUNCH I toward a first launch, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape of small‑satellite launch services.
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