While developing the T31 axial turboprop in 1943 GE realized that they had the resources to design an axial turbojet at the same time as their centrifugal J33 engine.
Under udviklingen af den aksiale turboprop motor T31 i 1943, opdagede GE at de havde ressourcer til at udvikle en aksial turbojet parallelt med udviklingen af den centrifugale J33 motor.