PBS TJ200 Turbojet Enters Market With 2,280 N of Thrust

Czech aerospace manufacturer PBS GROUP introduced its new PBS TJ200 turbojet engine at the Paris Air Show on June 16, 2025, expanding its propulsion portfolio into a higher thrust class for unmanned aircraft, missiles and target drones. The engine provides 2,280 N of continuous thrust and can reach 2,700 N for 30 seconds, according to company data.

PBS GROUP completed development and testing of the TJ200 at its main production facility in Velká Bíteš, Czech Republic, before presenting the engine to customers at the 55th Paris Air Show. Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček participated in the unveiling in Paris.

TJ200 increases PBS thrust by more than 50 percent

The TJ200 represents a substantial increase in performance over the existing PBS TJ150. PBS GROUP said its previous turbojet portfolio covered approximately 0.4 to 1.5 kN, while the TJ200 moves the company above the 2 kN threshold.

The new engine delivers 2,280 N of continuous thrust and weighs 28 kg. It measures 730 mm in length and 246 mm in diameter, while its specified operating altitude reaches 10,000 meters. PBS lists a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.9 and a time between overhauls of up to 25 hours.

Compared with the TJ150, the TJ200 provides more than 50 percent additional thrust while reducing external diameter by approximately 10 percent, according to PBS technical material. The TJ150 produces 1,500 N of thrust and has a diameter of 272 mm.

The engine incorporates a Full Authority Digital Engine Control system, or FADEC, and a brushless direct current starter-generator. PBS also uses a fuel-lubricated bearing architecture, reducing dependence on a separate conventional oil system.

PBS targets UAV, missile and target drone applications

PBS identifies unmanned aerial vehicles, missiles and target drones among the primary applications for the TJ200. The company has also designed the engine to support recovery after exposure to salt water, extending potential integration to systems operating in maritime environments.

This application range places the TJ200 in a segment that has become increasingly relevant to European defense manufacturers developing expendable unmanned aircraft and long-range precision strike systems.

The engine also broadens the range of platforms that PBS can address without moving directly to a substantially larger propulsion architecture. Its 246 mm diameter is particularly relevant for airframe designers working under strict dimensional constraints.

PBS said at the Paris unveiling that it was already receiving preliminary orders from major manufacturers in different regions, although the company did not identify customers, contract values or intended platforms. The manufacturer was accepting commercial inquiries for the engine following its introduction.

Czech propulsion portfolio expands beyond the TJ200

The TJ200 does not represent PBS GROUP's only effort to move into higher-output propulsion systems.

PBS is also working with Ukrainian aircraft engine developer Ivchenko-Progress on the AI-PBS-350 turbojet. The companies publicly presented that project at the Farnborough International Airshow in 2024, with PBS identifying cruise missiles and larger unmanned aerial vehicles as intended applications.

The two programs could position the Czech manufacturer across a wider section of the propulsion market for unmanned and expendable air systems. The TJ200 provides an internally developed 2.28 kN-class solution, while the AI-PBS-350 cooperation addresses requirements above the existing PBS product range.

For the Czech defense industry, the TJ200 also adds a domestically developed propulsion option at a time when European governments and manufacturers are expanding production capacity for unmanned systems, missiles and other precision-strike weapons.

PBS began development of the TJ200 in 2021. Its public debut in Paris in June 2025 marked the transition from development and testing toward customer integration and potential production applications.

PBS TJ200: key questions

How much thrust does the PBS TJ200 produce?

The PBS TJ200 produces 2,280 N of continuous thrust. PBS technical material also lists a temporary output of 2,700 N for up to 30 seconds.

What platforms can use the PBS TJ200?

PBS identifies unmanned aerial vehicles, missiles and target drones as primary applications. Its compact dimensions and salt-water recovery capability also support integration requirements associated with maritime operations.

How large is the PBS TJ200?

The engine is 730 mm long, has an external diameter of 246 mm and weighs 28 kg. Its specified maximum operating altitude is 10,000 meters.

Where is the PBS TJ200 manufactured?

PBS GROUP developed the TJ200 at its main aerospace production facility in Velká Bíteš in the Czech Republic. The company introduced the engine internationally at the Paris Air Show on June 16, 2025.