Germany-based Airbus Defence and Space has teamed with US Kratos Defense and Security Solutions to offer the latter’s XQ-58A Valkyrie combat drone to the German Air Force by 2029.
In development since 2019, the XQ-58A is designed to deliver kinetic and non-kinetic effects in autonomous missions or fly alongside a crewed platform as a “loyal wingman.”
The joint offer to Germany will feature a platform-agnostic Airbus mission system. 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. The NGWS is the core of the multi-national Future Combat Air System (FCAS), including France, Germany, and Spain.
Airbus reportedly plans to offer the XQ-58A as a “learning vehicle” to help the German Air Force train on manned-unmanned teaming.
The platform’s reported cost is under 10 million euros ($11.59 million), and it is capable of flying 3,000 miles (4,282 kilometers) at up to 45,000 feet (13,716 meters).
