IRIA News

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European aerospace giant Airbus has joined forces with American defense manufacturer Kratos to deliver a tailored variant of the XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial system (UAS) to the German Air Force or Luftwaffe, with full combat readiness expected by 2029.

The agreement, disclosed on July 16, 2025, will integrate Airbus’ platform-agnostic mission system into Kratos’ rail-launched, low-observable Valkyrie airframe. The resulting configuration is intended to serve as a collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) capable of operating alongside manned platforms within the Luftwaffe’s future force structure.

Uncrewed Force Multiplier

Flying since 2019, the XQ-58A Valkyrie has been in development under the U.S. Air Force’s Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) program. This next-generation loyal wingman is designed to operate in coordination with manned fighter aircraft.

With a maximum take-off weight of three tons, the Valkyrie is capable of delivering both kinetic and non-kinetic effects through autonomous or semi-autonomous missions. The platform boasts a range of 3,000 miles (4,828 km) and operational ceilings of up to 45,000 feet, enabling long-range penetration missions while minimizing risks to human pilots. Its rail-launched design enhances survivability by eliminating reliance on vulnerable runways.

Kratos CEO Eric DeMarco emphasized the Valkyrie’s modularity, readiness and design intent behind the Valkyrie platform: “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.”

He further explained relevance of the upcoming European variant, which builds on extensive U.S.-based testing: “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.”

Key features of XQ-58A Valkyrie

• Affordable and Stealthy: Developed under the U.S. Air Force’s LCAAT program, the XQ-58A Valkyrie is a low-cost, stealthy unmanned combat aircraft designed to reduce the cost curve of tactical airpower.
• Loyal Wingman: Designed to fly alongside crewed fighters, the Valkyrie supports manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) with AI-enabled mission support, sensor integration, and combat escort capabilities.
• Combat Flexibility: The UAV can operate solo, in swarms, or as part of a strike package, equipped with internal and wing-mounted weapons and mission payloads for varied roles.
• Remote Operations: The Valkyrie is rail-launched and recoverable without runways, offering pre-deployable, remote operations ideal for contested or denied environments.
• Production and Demand: With proven flight performance since 2019, the Valkyrie is now in production and contracted by multiple DoD customers as a key asset in the U.S. push for scalable, attritable airpower.

Accelerating readiness amid growing threats

The collaboration comes against the backdrop of rising geopolitical instability in Europe and beyond, as defense establishments scramble to adapt to the demands of high-intensity peer warfare, autonomy, and interoperability across NATO forces.

Airbus Defence and Space CEO Mike Schoellhorn framed the urgency saying that “In the given disruptive geopolitical context, our customers have expressed an urgent demand for both attritable and non-attritable Collaborative Combat Aircraft.”

He added that the collaboration betwwwn Kratos and Airbus built on a proven UAS platform, featuring a sovereign multi-platform mission system, will provide crucial capabilities for the European defense forcesbefore the end of the decade.

Schoellhorn emphasized that this transatlantic partnership not only accelerates European defense readiness but also reinforces NATO’s strategic cohesion: “This partnership will help to accelerate Europe’s ability to defend itself while fostering NATO’s transatlantic ties.”

Path to 2029: Valkyrie Combat Readiness

The Valkyrie-Airbus integration project combines speed, cost-efficiency, and proven capability in defense procurement, addressing common delays and cost overruns. The joint effort is expected to serve as a keystone project for broader CCA integration across NATO-aligned air forces, offering scalable autonomy and man-uncrewed teaming concepts at an operational level.

By combining American uncrewed platform expertise with Airbus’s European mission systems, Kratos and Airbus are reshaping the transatlantic defense industry.

This partnership advances autonomous air combat capabilities for the German Air Force and potentially other European forces. In a rapidly evolving threat environment, such collaboration is essential to maintain agility and technological edge. With delivery planned by 2029, the project highlights the importance of attritable UAS, multi-platform integration, and NATO cooperation in future air combat.