Airbus partners with Kratos Defense from the US to integrate German mission technology.
In a strategic move to address the growing demand for collaborative combat aircraft in Europe, Airbus Defence and Space and Kratos Defense and Security Solutions have joined forces to adapt the flight-proven XQ-58A Valkyrie for European defense needs. The partnership aims to make the Valkyrie combat-ready for the German Air Force by 2029.
The collaboration involves integrating a new mission system developed by Airbus into the Valkyrie platform. This mission system, featuring a platform-agnostic architecture, is designed to seamlessly integrate with both current and future crewed and uncrewed platforms, delivering a sovereign European solution within NATO’s interoperability framework.
The XQ-58A Valkyrie, a low-observable, rail-launched drone with a maximum take-off weight of three tons, is capable of long-range flights up to 3,000 miles and can reach altitudes of up to 45,000 feet. It is designed for high-end teaming missions, operating autonomously or in coordination with fighter jets.
The drone serves as a "loyal wingman" for various missions, including single drone operations and swarm strategies. It can deliver both kinetic and non-kinetic effects, either in autonomous missions or employed with teaming capable fighter jets. The Valkyrie system, developed by Kratos, is designed to be paired with manned aircraft, uncrewed aircraft, or a mix of both.
Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, stated that the partnership will help accelerate Europe's ability to defend itself while fostering NATO’s transatlantic ties. Eric DeMarco, CEO of Kratos, expressed excitement about the partnership with Airbus, stating that it will result in a new variant of the Valkyrie system, "tuned" for European missions.
Beyond Germany, the adapted Valkyrie could be offered to other European nations, filling emerging needs for collaborative combat drones. This partnership addresses the urgent demand for both attritable and non-attritable collaborative combat aircraft in Europe, leveraging the proven capabilities of the XQ-58A Valkyrie with customized mission systems for European defense applications.
The collaboration between Airbus Defence and Space and Kratos Defense and Security Solutions aims to integrate technology, specifically a new mission system developed by Airbus, into the XQ-58A Valkyrie to make it combat-ready for the European defense needs. This technology, designed for future integration with both manned and unmanned platforms, is anticipated to deliver a sovereign European solution within NATO’s interoperability framework.
