Airbus and US defence firm Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have completed the first European flight of the U740 Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft, marking a milestone in plans to deliver a combat-ready system by 2029 for Germany and other European armed forces.
The flight, conducted at a test facility in Northern Europe, met all objectives, including a rocket-assisted take-off independent of a conventional runway, manoeuvres at various altitudes and speeds of up to Mach 0.8, and in-flight mission adjustments, the companies said.
The test paves the way for more advanced flights using Airbus’ Multi-platform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system, designed to give European operators sovereign control over the aircraft’s software, mission applications, data and hardware.
MARS uses artificial intelligence-enhanced software to enable autonomous operations and coordinate groups of aircraft. A control hierarchy keeps a human in the loop to ensure critical decisions comply with established rules of engagement and applicable ethical and legal standards.
Combining Kratos’ established airframe with Airbus’ European-controlled mission system would deliver an affordable, combat-ready collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) by the end of the decade, he said.
The Valkyrie is also intended to support crewed combat aircraft, including the Eurofighter, by extending their operational range, firepower and survivability. Its design offers operational flexibility through rail-launched operations, alongside conventional runway-based take-offs and landings.
The aircraft is 9.1 metres long, with an 8.2-metre wingspan, an internal weapons bay and external payload stations beneath its wings. It has a maximum take-off weight of about three tonnes, a range of more than 5,000 kilometres and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet.
Designed to operate autonomously or under the command of crewed fighter aircraft, the Valkyrie is intended to undertake high-risk missions while helping protect crewed platforms.
The programme reflects European efforts to develop uncrewed combat systems that can operate alongside existing fighter fleets while retaining national control over mission-critical technology.
