Forging the Future: Kratos and Rangeview Tackle a Critical U.S. Defense Gap

EL SEGUNDO, CA – July 30, 2026 – In a move that signals a significant shift in the U.S. defense industrial base, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has selected Rangeview Inc., an advanced casting company, to develop critical components for its turbine engine programs. The partnership, announced today, is more than a simple supply agreement; it’s a direct response to a long-festering vulnerability in America’s national security infrastructure: the domestic production of advanced superalloy castings.

For years, engine manufacturers and Pentagon officials have sounded the alarm over the shrinking U.S. foundry industry, a decline that has created critical bottlenecks for everything from fighter jets to missiles. Now, Kratos is betting that Rangeview’s blend of robotics, software, and digital tooling can not only plug this gap but also accelerate the production of next-generation propulsion systems for drones and cruise missiles, fundamentally reshaping the economics of modern defense.

A Critical Break in the Chain

The challenge Kratos and Rangeview are tackling is not new, but its urgency has reached a fever pitch. The press release notes the program addresses a component class “the Department of Defense has repeatedly identified as a critical gap.” This is a stark understatement. According to strategic reports released under Executive Order 14017, “America’s Supply Chains,” the DoD explicitly names “castings and forgings” as a high-priority vulnerability. Industry analyses paint an even bleaker picture, with one report from the Interagency Advanced Manufacturing Institute (IACMI) noting the domestic supply chain for these components has shrunk by a staggering 80%.

This decline has tangible consequences. A single missing cast part, often worth just a few thousand dollars, can ground a multi-million dollar aircraft or delay the delivery of entire weapons systems. The issue became so acute that earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14415, “Securing America’s Defense Supply Chains,” which mandates tighter oversight and a strategic shift toward domestic sourcing for critical materials, specifically calling out castings.

This is the environment into which Rangeview enters as a key Kratos partner. The company is not just making parts; it is helping to rebuild a sovereign capability deemed essential for national security. “Kratos is solidifying our supply chain with outstanding partners as we prepare for large volume production of our leading technology to sell jet engines for drones and missiles,” said Stacey Rock, President of Kratos’ Turbine Technologies Division. “Our agreement with Rangeview is another milestone as we execute our strategy.”

The 'Cyber Foundry' Solution

At the heart of this partnership is Rangeview’s radical rethinking of the centuries-old casting process. Traditional investment casting is a meticulous, multi-step craft that can take months just to produce the initial tooling. Rangeview, based in El Segundo, California, is pioneering what some call a “cyber foundry” approach, integrating robotics, proprietary software, and digital tooling to slash lead times and costs.

“Kratos is redefining what affordable engine production looks like, and we are proud to support that mission,” said Cameron Schiller, CEO and founder of Rangeview. “The industry needs new casting capacity and a new generation of suppliers to deliver it. Rangeview was built to be that supplier, winning programs, standing up capacity, and taking complex superalloy castings from design to flight hardware in a fraction of the traditional time, at home, in the United States.”

Their technology reportedly uses 3D printing to create casting molds, cutting nearly half the steps from the traditional 18-step process. This allows them to produce “flight quality cast superalloy hardware with significantly shortened development lead times.”

This capability puts Rangeview in a unique position between traditional casting and additive manufacturing (3D printing). While 3D printing is lauded for its ability to create complex shapes, it can face limitations with certain high-performance superalloys required for the extreme heat and stress environments inside a jet engine. Rangeview’s process promises the best of both worlds.

“Rangeview’s casting technology gives a level of flexibility, speed, and capability that cannot be achieved with conventional methods,” explained Russ Jones, Chief Engineer at Kratos. “Their process enables complex geometries that previously required laser powder bed additive manufacturing but with high-capability cast superalloys. This development approach is accelerating our engineering timelines while preserving the performance and material properties we need for advanced turbine applications.”

Powering the Future Arsenal

For Kratos, this technological edge is a strategic imperative. The company is aggressively expanding its role as a premier supplier of affordable, high-performance engines for a new era of warfare defined by unmanned systems and “affordable mass.” The company is expanding its Oklahoma production facility by over 100,000 square feet to meet soaring demand, with a stated goal of producing 3,000 of its Spartan line turbojet engines in 2027.

These engines, along with the more advanced GEK turbofan family being co-developed with GE Aerospace, are destined for a range of platforms, from the Valkyrie collaborative combat aircraft selected by the U.S. Marine Corps to a new generation of cruise missiles. To achieve this scale, a slow, unreliable supply chain for critical engine components is not an option. The partnership with Rangeview is a direct move to de-risk its production ramp-up and ensure it can deliver on its promise of rapidly fielding cost-effective solutions.

By securing a domestic, high-tech partner for one of the most challenging parts of the engine manufacturing process, Kratos is not only bolstering its own production lines but also contributing to a broader Pentagon priority: replenishing missile inventories and expanding industrial capacity to deter potential adversaries. The ability to quickly design, test, and produce advanced turbine components on U.S. soil is a powerful competitive differentiator and a crucial element of national defense strategy.

This collaboration is a microcosm of a larger industrial evolution. As the U.S. works to rebuild its manufacturing muscle and secure its supply chains, the fusion of digital technology with foundational industries like foundry work is paramount. The Kratos-Rangeview agreement demonstrates that building trust in our defense capabilities begins at the most fundamental level: with the very metal that powers our ability to project strength and defend the nation.