Airbus to team with US Kratos Defense, deploying German mission system

Airbus Defence and Space and US-based Kratos Defense and Security Solutions have entered into a partnership based on the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie, a UCCA (uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft), which will be equipped with an Airbus-made mission system, and be combat-ready for the German Air Force by 2029. Airbus' mission system, through its platform-agnostic system architecture, is designed to integrate into the Valkyrie and other existing and future platforms.

The XQ-58A is a low-observable, rail-launched drone with a maximum take-off weight of three tons. It is designed to deliver both kinetic and non-kinetic effects, either in autonomous missions or when employed with teaming-capable fighter jets. The prototype has been in development for years and is able to travel 3000 miles at an altitude of up to 45 000 ft (13 716 m).

"In the given disruptive geopolitical context, our customers have expressed an urgent demand for both attritable and non-attritable Collaborative Combat Aircraft. 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," said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.

(article source: Airbus / editor: Anton van Rijsbergen)
(image source: Airbus)