Airbus Integrates US Valkyrie Drone to Accelerate Germany’s Airpower Transformation
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In a geopolitical context marked by rising tensions and increased European military investments, Airbus Defence and Space and Kratos Defense and Security Solutions have formalized a major collaboration in the field of combat drones. The two companies plan to develop a version of the XQ-58A Valkyrie collaborative combat drone tailored to the needs of Germany, with operational readiness expected by 2029 for the Luftwaffe. This initiative is part of broader European efforts to strengthen technological resilience against global threats while reinforcing transatlantic ties within NATO.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The XQ-58A is characterized by its stealth, maneuverability, and mission flexibility, suited to diverse battlefield requirements. (Picture source: Kratos )
The Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie is a stealth combat drone designed for operations in contested environments under the Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) concept. Initially developed for the US Air Force under the Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) program, the Valkyrie is a low-cost tactical UAV capable of high subsonic speeds over long distances. It can be deployed without runways thanks to rail-assisted launch. Its modular design enables use as a “Loyal Wingman,” in autonomous missions, or in swarms. The UAV is equipped with an internal bay and wing hardpoints allowing for a wide range of payloads, including lethal weapons and electronic warfare systems.
The XQ-58A is characterized by its stealth, maneuverability, and mission flexibility, suited to diverse battlefield requirements. It can conduct autonomous electronic support missions for manned platforms or automated aerial patrols, with potential for advanced artificial intelligence integration. The drone was designed with cost control in mind, falling within the “attritable” cost class defined by the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to support the US strategy of mass deployment against near-peer adversaries. Developed by Kratos in the United States, the Valkyrie has already been tested by the US Air Force and Marine Corps. With a maximum takeoff weight of three tons, it can reach altitudes up to 45,000 feet and cover 4,828 kilometers. The system is designed for full autonomy or in support of manned combat aircraft, embodying the Loyal Wingman concept to enhance fighter jet capabilities.
Airbus plans to integrate its own mission system into this platform, supported by an open and platform-agnostic architecture. This approach aims to ensure maximum interoperability between manned and unmanned systems that will increasingly populate European armed forces. Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, emphasized the urgent demand from European customers for both attritable and non-attritable collaborative combat aircraft in a strategic environment shaped by emerging threats and power rivalries. He stated that the Airbus-Kratos cooperation would deliver essential capabilities to European forces by 2029, meeting the continent’s growing defense needs.
Kratos CEO Eric DeMarco welcomed the partnership with Airbus, which will offer a variant specifically configured for European requirements. Since its first flight in 2019, the Valkyrie has demonstrated operational versatility across various trials and scenarios. The partnership reflects Kratos’ ambition to expand beyond the US by adapting its systems to European standards and requirements.
The selection of the XQ-58A also aligns with a proactive industrial strategy. While the Luftwaffe is considering drone wingmen within its Electronic Combat Wingman program, the joint Airbus-Kratos offer is not directly aimed at this effort but anticipates a medium-term need. An Airbus spokesperson specified that the goal is to offer Germany a suitable solution in the coming years, with 2029 seen as a key milestone for reinforcing European defense capabilities.
This partnership comes as Airbus continues to develop its own “Wingman” platform in cooperation with German company Helsing. Announced in 2024, this project is designed to accompany aircraft such as the Eurofighter, with operational deployment aimed for the 2030s. However, the Airbus Wingman belongs to a heavier weight class compared to the Valkyrie, which is lighter and therefore potentially more deployable in greater numbers.
In the United States, despite the XQ-58A not being selected in the first round of the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, Kratos continues its developments. The company is working with the Marines on the Penetrating Affordable Autonomous Collaborative Killer Program (PAACK-P), exploring several variants of the drone, including versions focused on electronic warfare. Additionally, Kratos unveiled in April 2025 the first images of a Valkyrie equipped with landing gear, potentially broadening its operational uses beyond the initial rail-launched configuration.
The Airbus-Kratos initiative is part of a broader European dynamic to strengthen military capabilities, accelerated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the need for NATO to bolster its posture against high-intensity threats. Integrating Loyal Wingman-type drones into European air forces represents a strategic advance, combining volume, complexity, and lethality at a controlled cost.
The Airbus and Kratos alliance around the XQ-58A Valkyrie aims to provide the Luftwaffe, and potentially other European forces, with a proven collaborative combat drone capability adapted to current operational challenges. With deployment targeted for 2029, this program could represent a significant milestone in the digital and operational transformation of European air forces, while reinforcing technological and strategic ties between Europe and the United States.
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In a geopolitical context marked by rising tensions and increased European military investments, Airbus Defence and Space and Kratos Defense and Security Solutions have formalized a major collaboration in the field of combat drones. The two companies plan to develop a version of the XQ-58A Valkyrie collaborative combat drone tailored to the needs of Germany, with operational readiness expected by 2029 for the Luftwaffe. This initiative is part of broader European efforts to strengthen technological resilience against global threats while reinforcing transatlantic ties within NATO.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The XQ-58A is characterized by its stealth, maneuverability, and mission flexibility, suited to diverse battlefield requirements. (Picture source: Kratos )
The Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie is a stealth combat drone designed for operations in contested environments under the Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) concept. Initially developed for the US Air Force under the Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) program, the Valkyrie is a low-cost tactical UAV capable of high subsonic speeds over long distances. It can be deployed without runways thanks to rail-assisted launch. Its modular design enables use as a “Loyal Wingman,” in autonomous missions, or in swarms. The UAV is equipped with an internal bay and wing hardpoints allowing for a wide range of payloads, including lethal weapons and electronic warfare systems.
The XQ-58A is characterized by its stealth, maneuverability, and mission flexibility, suited to diverse battlefield requirements. It can conduct autonomous electronic support missions for manned platforms or automated aerial patrols, with potential for advanced artificial intelligence integration. The drone was designed with cost control in mind, falling within the “attritable” cost class defined by the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to support the US strategy of mass deployment against near-peer adversaries. Developed by Kratos in the United States, the Valkyrie has already been tested by the US Air Force and Marine Corps. With a maximum takeoff weight of three tons, it can reach altitudes up to 45,000 feet and cover 4,828 kilometers. The system is designed for full autonomy or in support of manned combat aircraft, embodying the Loyal Wingman concept to enhance fighter jet capabilities.
Airbus plans to integrate its own mission system into this platform, supported by an open and platform-agnostic architecture. This approach aims to ensure maximum interoperability between manned and unmanned systems that will increasingly populate European armed forces. Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, emphasized the urgent demand from European customers for both attritable and non-attritable collaborative combat aircraft in a strategic environment shaped by emerging threats and power rivalries. He stated that the Airbus-Kratos cooperation would deliver essential capabilities to European forces by 2029, meeting the continent’s growing defense needs.
Kratos CEO Eric DeMarco welcomed the partnership with Airbus, which will offer a variant specifically configured for European requirements. Since its first flight in 2019, the Valkyrie has demonstrated operational versatility across various trials and scenarios. The partnership reflects Kratos’ ambition to expand beyond the US by adapting its systems to European standards and requirements.
The selection of the XQ-58A also aligns with a proactive industrial strategy. While the Luftwaffe is considering drone wingmen within its Electronic Combat Wingman program, the joint Airbus-Kratos offer is not directly aimed at this effort but anticipates a medium-term need. An Airbus spokesperson specified that the goal is to offer Germany a suitable solution in the coming years, with 2029 seen as a key milestone for reinforcing European defense capabilities.
This partnership comes as Airbus continues to develop its own “Wingman” platform in cooperation with German company Helsing. Announced in 2024, this project is designed to accompany aircraft such as the Eurofighter, with operational deployment aimed for the 2030s. However, the Airbus Wingman belongs to a heavier weight class compared to the Valkyrie, which is lighter and therefore potentially more deployable in greater numbers.
In the United States, despite the XQ-58A not being selected in the first round of the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, Kratos continues its developments. The company is working with the Marines on the Penetrating Affordable Autonomous Collaborative Killer Program (PAACK-P), exploring several variants of the drone, including versions focused on electronic warfare. Additionally, Kratos unveiled in April 2025 the first images of a Valkyrie equipped with landing gear, potentially broadening its operational uses beyond the initial rail-launched configuration.
The Airbus-Kratos initiative is part of a broader European dynamic to strengthen military capabilities, accelerated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the need for NATO to bolster its posture against high-intensity threats. Integrating Loyal Wingman-type drones into European air forces represents a strategic advance, combining volume, complexity, and lethality at a controlled cost.
The Airbus and Kratos alliance around the XQ-58A Valkyrie aims to provide the Luftwaffe, and potentially other European forces, with a proven collaborative combat drone capability adapted to current operational challenges. With deployment targeted for 2029, this program could represent a significant milestone in the digital and operational transformation of European air forces, while reinforcing technological and strategic ties between Europe and the United States.
