Abstract: A start system for an expendable gas turbine engine is provided. The start system may include: a tank configured to store a pressurized gas comprising oxygen; a non-pyrotechnic igniter in communication with a combustion chamber of the expendable gas turbine engine; a starter tube configured to feed the pressurized gas from the tank into the combustion chamber; and a valve configured to regulate a flow of the pressurized gas from the tank into the starter tube; wherein, the start system is configured to startup the expendable gas turbine engine by the flow of the pressurized gas from the tank, through the valve and the starter tube, into the combustion chamber and, from the combustion chamber, into a plurality of turbine blades of the expendable gas turbine engine, and by ignition, by the non-pyrotechnic igniter, of fuel injected into the combustion chamber.