Rigorous vacuum chamber test campaign confirms successful engine ignition capability and performance at high altitude
DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Beehive Industries, an American manufacturer of advanced propulsion systems for uncrewed aerial defense applications, announced today the successful completion of high-altitude testing for its 200 lbf Frenzy™ engine, marking another major milestone in the company’s rapid development program and confirming readiness for flight testing in the first quarter of 2026. The achievement underscores Beehive’s ability to deliver cutting-edge propulsion to the warfighter at the speed of need — advancing American defense with innovation built for operational advantage. View photos and videos here.
The high-altitude test campaign, conducted at a government test facility in Ohio, validates Frenzy’s performance and capability across the full flight envelope. With this success, Beehive has completed altitude testing on schedule and is preparing to scale production to meet surging customer demand.
“The milestone confirms Frenzy’s readiness for flight integration,” said David Kimball, Chief Technology Officer at Beehive Industries. “In less than a year, we’ve gone from concept to proven high-altitude performance — and we’re doing it ahead of schedule because of the talented and determined team at Beehive. Frenzy is now flight-ready, and our production system is ready to scale alongside it.”
The altitude campaign capped an extraordinary year of progress for Beehive’s Frenzy program. Following the company’s September announcement of successful ground testing on six engines in just four months, Beehive shipped two prototype engines to a government testing facility in Ohio on schedule in October for a series of high-altitude tests. The results — performance, ignition at altitude, operability, and durability — all met or exceeded challenging Air Force requirements, validating the disruptive capability of the Frenzy engine. To recap the test campaign, the Frenzy engines demonstrated:
- Successful ignition and operation across the flight envelope
- Rapid acceleration from light-off to 100% engine speed
- Turbine temperatures and thrust-specific fuel consumption better than predicted
- “Like new” hardware condition after mission-life equivalent runtime
These results validate Beehive’s additive-first manufacturing approach, which allows the company to compress traditional aerospace development cycles from years to months while delivering disruptive cost and performance at unmatched scale.
“This test campaign not only demonstrates the full potential of our engine, but also how we move with speed through a highly iterative, cross-functional development program,” Kimball added. “Each milestone strengthens our confidence in the architecture, our ability to deliver on our commitments, and the disruptive path we’re charting for next-generation propulsion. We’re not just accelerating development timelines — we’re ensuring America’s warfighters have the technology they need, when they need it most.”
With flight testing set for early 2026, Beehive is preparing to integrate the Frenzy engine with its first flight vehicle — the final step before entering low-rate initial production. The company’s facilities in Denver, Cincinnati, and Knoxville are already ramping capacity to meet anticipated production demand.
Beehive has achieved extraordinary milestones with its Frenzy engine, building on a $12.46 million U.S. Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO) / University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) contract awarded in October 2024 and the engine’s formal December 2024 introduction. The Frenzy engine family spans 100 to 300 lbf, designed to power next-generation uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) with unmatched efficiency, reliability, and affordability.
About Beehive Industries
Beehive Industries is a U.S.-based manufacturing company specializing in the design and development of jet engines for uncrewed aerial defense applications, as well as parts manufacturing across high technology industries. Beehive employs more than 300 team members and is committed to powering American defense through advanced manufacturing and innovative offerings. Learn more at https://www.beehive-industries.com
About UDRI
UDRI is a leader in research, development, and technology transition, partnering with organizations like Beehive and the U.S. Air Force to drive innovation in aerospace and propulsion.
About the RSO
The Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO), a Division of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Combat Readiness Directorate, accelerates game-changing capabilities that sustain a modern Air Force. By exploiting new and emerging technologies, the RSO delivers sustainment and maintenance solutions at the speed of need to maximize warfighter readiness. Learn more at https://www.aflcmc.af.mil/RSO.
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Alex Walker
Director of Communications
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