Airbus Defence and Space has partnered with Kratos Defense and Security Solutions to enhance the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie drone. The collaboration aims to equip the drone with an Airbus mission system for the German Air Force by 2029.
The XQ-58A is a low observable, rail-launched drone capable of carrying out both kinetic and non-kinetic missions. It can operate autonomously or alongside fighter jets, boasting a range of 3,000 miles at altitudes up to 45,000 feet.
Airbus’ mission system features a platform-agnostic architecture designed for seamless integration into existing and future aircraft platforms.
“In the given disruptive geopolitical context, our customers have expressed an urgent demand for both attritable and non-attritable Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The collaboration of Kratos and Airbus, based on an existing and proven UAS platform and featuring a sovereign multi-platform mission system, will deliver crucial capabilities for our warfighters in Europe before the end of the decade. This partnership will help to accelerate Europe’s ability to defend itself while fostering NATO’s transatlantic ties,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.
Eric DeMarco, CEO of Kratos, commented on the collaboration: “We have designed the Valkyrie system to be an affordable and formidable CCA paired in collaborative fashion with manned aircraft, a team of uncrewed aircraft, or a mix of both. Based on Valkyrie’s proven flight capability, first demonstrated in 2019, and the many mission systems, autonomy systems, and mission scenarios tested with the system over time, we’re excited about our partnership with Airbus which will result again in a first to market Valkyrie variant, now “tuned” for the European mission.”
