What PBS GROUP does

PBS GROUP is a privately held Czech aerospace and precision engineering holding company headquartered in Prague with primary manufacturing in Velká Bíteš, controlling five operating divisions across Aerospace, Power Engineering, Cryogenics, Investment Casting, and Surface Treatments. Founded in 1950 and led by General Director Petr Kádner, the group claims 200+ years of cumulative engineering heritage and 50+ years in aerospace, with 900+ employees, 90% in-house production, and a 90% export rate. Disclosed turnover is CZK 2.2 billion (~$92-100M USD).

The Aerospace division is the strategic center of gravity, producing TJ40, TJ80, and TJ200 turbojet engines covering 400-3,400 N of thrust, plus auxiliary power units (APUs) and environmental control systems (ECS) for UAVs, cruise missiles, and attritable one-way attack drones. PBS Aerospace, the US subsidiary established in Roswell, Georgia in September 2025 with a $125M committed investment, builds TJ40 and TJ80 engines domestically for US defense customers, including a $3M US Air Force contract and a multi-year Zone 5 Technologies subcontract. The Power Engineering division (PBS ENERGO) supplies steam turbines, ETG I/II expansion turbines, and industrial expanders for power generation and gas pressure letdown. The Cryogenics division supplies HEXT/CTE 100-300 helium turboexpanders, cryogenic compressors, and pumps for helium, hydrogen, and nitrogen liquefaction. Investment Casting produces nickel- and cobalt-based superalloy turbine wheels, blades, segments, impellers, spinner discs, and femoral knee components at a documented 0.4% scrap rate. Surface Treatments provides anodising, zinc/nickel/tin plating, and blackening services.

PBS monetizes primarily through direct B2B hardware sales to defense and aerospace customers, energy utilities, and industrial manufacturers, with no disclosed public pricing. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales into government defense (US Air Force, Ukraine defense industry) and defense primes (Zone 5 Technologies), supplemented by direct project sales for power, cryogenic, and surface treatment products. The near-term growth thesis rests on the 5x-8x scaling of mini turbojet engine output for Ukraine since 2023, the $125M US capacity build-out sold out through 2027, a Pratt & Whitney APU joint development, and the 2025 launch of the TJ200 engine. Customer concentration is heavily skewed to defense and a handful of named programs, with the aerospace regulatory stack (EASA DOA/POA, AS9100, NADCAP, AQAP 2110, EMAR 21) forming the primary competitive moat.

Name

PBS GROUP

Legal name

PBS GROUP, a.s.

Website

https://pbs.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

PBS GROUP is a Czech privately held aerospace and precision engineering holding company producing turbojet engines (TJ40/TJ80/TJ200), APUs, steam and expansion turbines, cryogenic equipment, and investment-cast superalloy components for defense, energy, and industrial customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Engine Manufacturing

NAICS

Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing (336412), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (3364)

SIC

Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Aircraft & Parts (3720), Engines & Turbines (3510), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Turbojet Engines (IMABADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Military Aerospace Engines & Propulsion (IMABAMAD), Engine Modules & Hot-Section Components (Compressors/Turbines/Combustors) (IMABADAJ), Pump & Compressor Packages (Skids, Booster Sets) (IMAHANAG)

Keywords

• Turbojet engine manufacturing
• Precision investment casting
• Cryogenic equipment manufacturing
• Steam turbine production
• Aerospace defense propulsion

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Defense Turbojet Engine Sales: PBS Aerospace, the US subsidiary, builds and sells turbojet engines (TJ40, TJ80) to US defense customers including the US Air Force and defense primes like Zone 5 Technologies. A $3 million US Air Force contract was won for turbojet engines for small one-way attack drones. Production sold out through 2027.
2. Mini Jet Engine Supply to Ukraine: PBS Group supplies mini turbojet engines to Ukraine's attack drone program. Production scaled five-fold since 2023 with target of eight-fold by year-end. Engines supplied to Ukrainian defense industry and deep-strike drone programs.
3. Precision Castings and Components: PBS supplies precision-cast nickel- and cobalt-based superalloy components for aerospace, energy, and medical industries. Includes turbine wheels, blades, segments, impellers, femoral components, and spinner discs.
4. Power Engineering Equipment: PBS Power Engineering supplies steam turbines, expansion turbines, and expanders for energy generation and industrial applications. Provides turnkey solutions from design through commissioning and service.
5. Cryogenic Equipment: PBS manufactures and sells cryogenic turboexpanders, compressors, and pumps for helium, nitrogen, and hydrogen applications in research, aerospace, healthcare, and industrial settings.
6. Surface Treatment Services: PBS provides surface treatment services including zinc plating, nickel plating, anodising, tin plating, and blackening for aluminum and steel components across aerospace, automotive, defense, and industrial sectors.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PBS GROUP is a Czech precision engineering holding company that designs and manufactures jet engines (TJ40, TJ80, TJ200 turbojet engines with thrust from 400 to 3,400 N) primarily for unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, and attritable drones, alongside auxiliary power units (APUs), aircraft environmental control systems (ECS), industrial steam and gas expansion turbines, cryogenic turboexpanders/compressors/pumps, and precision investment castings from nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys. The group operates through five divisions: Aerospace, Power Engineering, Cryogenics, Investment Casting, and Surface Treatments.

Product overview

PBS GROUP is a Czech aerospace and precision engineering holding company with a diversified portfolio spanning five main business segments: Aerospace, Power Engineering, Cryogenics, Investment Casting, and Surface Treatments. The company produces jet engines with thrust ranging from 400 to 3,400 N (TJ40, TJ80, TJ200 turbojet engines), auxiliary power units (APU), and environmental control systems (ECS) primarily for unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, and aircraft applications through its PBS Aerospace U.S. subsidiary. The Power Engineering division (PBS ENERGO) manufactures steam turbines, expansion turbines (ETG I, ETG II), and industrial expanders for energy generation and industrial applications. The Cryogenics segment produces helium turboexpanders (HEXT/CTE 100/200/300), cryogenic compressors, and pumps for liquefaction and handling of technical gases. Investment Casting supplies precision-cast components including turbine wheels, spinner discs, aircraft engine impellers and guide wheels, turbine blades and segments, and femoral components from nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys. The Surface Treatments division offers zinc plating, nickel plating, anodising, tin plating, and blackening services. The company operates manufacturing facilities in the Czech Republic, USA (Roswell, Georgia), and India, with production sold out through 2027 for defense turbojet engines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PBS Aerospace: US subsidiary focused on turbojet engine manufacturing for defense applications including cruise missiles and unmanned aerial systems.
• PBS ENERGO
• PBS Investment Casting
• PBS Cryogenics
• PBS Surface Treatments

Products and services

• TJ40 Turbojet Engine Compact turbojet engine with thrust in the lower range (400-3,400 N family), designed for rapid integration into missile and autonomous drone systems. Optimized for one-way attack drones and deep-strike applications.
• TJ80 Turbojet Engine Mid-range turbojet engine designed for rapid deployment into missile and unmanned systems. Higher thrust output than TJ40, suitable for larger UAVs and cruise missile applications.
• TJ200 Turbojet Engine Most powerful turbojet engine unveiled by PBS Velká Bíteš to date, representing a significant advancement in thrust capability for unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced drone applications.
• Auxiliary Power Units (APU) Aircraft auxiliary power units providing independent power generation for aviation systems. PBS announced a partnership with Pratt & Whitney for joint development of next-generation APUs for military and civil aircraft.
• Environmental Control Systems (ECS) Aircraft environmental control systems managing cabin pressure, temperature, and air quality for various aviation platforms.
• Steam Turbines Industrial steam turbines for power generation in power plants, heating plants, cogeneration units, and combined cycles, as well as for driving pumps, compressors, or fans. PBS provides complete turnkey deliveries from design through installation and lifetime service.
• ETG I Single-stage Expansion Turbines Compact single-stage gas expansion turbines with one radial or axial wheel on a common shaft, featuring high efficiency through optimized flow-path geometry. Typical power output up to 1 MW, outlet pressure up to 3.5 MPa.
• ETG II Two-stage Dual-shaft Turbines Two-stage dual-shaft gas expansion turbines combining high- and low-pressure modules for two-stage expansion or applications with two pressure levels. Electrical output up to 12 MW.
• Industrial Expanders Expanders with compressor load for single-shaft turboexpanders coupled with centrifugal compressors, operating at inlet pressures 1-63 bar(g) and power outputs 0.3-10 MW. Includes expansion generators designed for electricity generation from process or renewable gases including hydrogen, oxygen, or carbon dioxide.
• HEXT/CTE 100 Helium Turboexpander Helium turboexpander for cryogenic applications with cooling power 0.1-3 kW, mass flow 4-150 g/s, max RPM 360,000. Features aerodynamic bearings and eddy current brake for precise power and cooling effect regulation.
• HEXT/CTE 200 Helium Turboexpander Mid-range helium turboexpander with cooling power 2-16 kW, mass flow 150-600 g/s, max RPM 180,000. Features aerodynamic bearings with options for eddy current brake or generator configuration.
• HEXT/CTE 300 Helium Turboexpander High-capacity helium turboexpander with cooling power 10-100 kW, mass flow 300 g/s, max RPM 100,000. Offers generator or compressor configuration options for flexible integration into cryogenic systems.
• Cryogenic Compressors Centrifugal cryogenic compressors for compression of gases (helium, nitrogen, argon) prior to liquefaction. Modular design allows tailoring of pressure, flow rate, and number of stages. Multi-stage configurations with intercoolers available.
• Cryogenic Pumps High-performance centrifugal cryogenic pumps for transfer of liquefied gases including helium, nitrogen, and argon. Modular design in two size ranges allows flow rate and pressure customization for specific application requirements.
• Precision Cast Turbine Wheels Precision-cast turbine wheels for turbochargers in energy, transport, and marine industries. Produced from heat-resistant superalloys with complete in-house production. Diameter range 50-400 mm, weight range 0.15-44 kg.
• Spinner Discs High-precision spinner discs for pulp and paper industry made of nickel-based superalloys. Ensure maximum strength, wear resistance, and long service life for uniform fiber defibration. Dimensional range Ø300-Ø520 mm, weight 9-30 kg.
• Aircraft Engine Impellers and Guide Wheels Precision-cast impeller and guide wheels for aircraft engines operating at temperatures up to 950°C. Withstand both thermal and mechanical loads, meeting strict aerospace standards. Maximum diameter Ø260 mm, maximum weight 2.5 kg.
• Turbine Blades and Gas Turbine Segments Precision-cast rotor and stator blades and segments for stationary gas turbines. Available as individual parts or complete sets including hollow (cooled) variants from highly durable superalloys. Length range 50-520 mm, weight range 0.1-35 kg.
• Femoral Components Precision-cast femoral components for artificial knee joints using cobalt-based superalloys. Meets strictest requirements for quality, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility. Multiple size options with cobalt alloy CoCrMo (ISO 5832-4).
• Zinc Plating Cyanide-free zinc plating with optional blue or yellow thin-film passivation for corrosion protection of steel components up to 1200×750×350 mm.
• Nickel Plating High-quality nickel electroplating with characteristic high gloss and considerable hardness for decorative and functional purposes. Components up to 1200×750×350 mm.
• Anodising Electrochemical anodising process forming durable oxide layer on aluminum. Offers hard anodising, hard black anodising, natural anodising, natural black anodising, and chromic acid anodising for components up to 1800×850×550 mm.
• Tin Plating Electrolytic tin coating providing excellent solderability, corrosion resistance, and non-toxicity. Bright tin layers on steel, copper, or copper alloys for parts up to 1200×750×350 mm.
• Blackening Black oxide conversion coating for steel components creating thin black surface layer with minimal dimensional change. Ideal for precision parts up to 1200×600×350 mm, used in defense, arms, and optics industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Jet engine production scaled 5x since 2023, targeting 8x by year-end to meet Ukraine demand
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kratos Turbine Technologies: US-based producer of small turbojet and turbofan engines for cruise missiles, target drones, and attritable UAS. Closest direct peer to PBS Aerospace, competing head-to-head for USAF attritable munitions and cruise missile propulsion contracts.
• Williams International: US manufacturer of small turbofan and turbojet engines used in cruise missiles (e.g., Tomahawk, AGM-86) and UAVs. Directly comparable in thrust class and end-use to PBS's TJ40/TJ80/TJ200 family.
• Microturbo (Safran): Safran subsidiary producing micro-turbojet engines and APUs for missiles, UAVs, and helicopters. Directly comparable product family and European heritage to PBS Aerospace, with broader parent backing.

Broad incumbents

• Pratt & Whitney: Major US propulsion OEM producing APUs, military engines, and small propulsion systems. Already a partner of PBS for APU development, and a broader incumbent whose capabilities overlap with PBS's APU and engine component offerings.
• Honeywell Aerospace: Large US aerospace incumbent with extensive small engine, APU, and ECS product lines for civil and military aircraft. Overlaps with PBS in APUs, ECS, and propulsion subsystems at a much larger scale.
• Howmet Aerospace: Leading investment casting and superalloy components supplier for aerospace engines. Directly comparable to PBS Investment Casting in nickel and cobalt superalloy turbine wheels, blades, and structural castings.
• Doncasters Group: Global precision castings manufacturer serving aerospace, defense, and industrial gas turbine markets with superalloy components. Comparable to PBS's investment casting division in product range and customer base.
• Linde Engineering: Major industrial gas and cryogenic equipment supplier with helium liquefaction and turboexpander offerings. Comparable to PBS Cryogenics in helium turboexpanders, cryogenic compressors, and pumps.

Others

• Man Energy Solutions: Large German industrial OEM producing steam turbines, expansion turbines, and compressors for power and process industries. Comparable to PBS ENERGO and Cryogenics in steam turbine and gas expander offerings.

Emerging players

• Cannon-Muskegon: Specialty producer of nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys for investment cast aerospace components. Comparable niche specialty foundry peer to PBS's superalloy investment casting capability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/group_pbs

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PBS GROUP