Key Highlights
- Two Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie drones are being prepared for inaugural European mission system flights at Airbus’s Manching, Germany location
- Flight testing could commence in late 2026, supporting a timeline to provide the German Air Force with operational combat drone capabilities by 2029
- The Valkyries will feature Airbus’s MARS (Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure) system, incorporating AI software for coordinating mixed fleets of piloted and autonomous aircraft
- Modifications to the Litening 5 targeting pod on Eurofighter aircraft will enable pilots to direct and control the drones during missions
- Valkyrie specifications include a range exceeding 5,000km, operational ceiling of 45,000 feet, and initial US flight testing beginning in 2019
Airbus has begun preparing two Kratos-manufactured combat drones for testing with European mission systems, with initial flights anticipated before the end of this year.
The Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie aircraft are undergoing preparation at Airbus’s Manching facility near Munich. The program aims to deliver operational capabilities to the German Air Force within the 2029 timeframe.
This collaboration combines Airbus’s mission system development capabilities with Kratos’s proven drone platform. Airbus has chosen to integrate its command-and-control software into the existing Valkyrie design to accelerate the program timeline.
The integration centers on Airbus’s MARS platform—Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure. This system features MindShare, an AI-powered software suite that replicates pilot decision-making and orchestrates combined operations involving both crewed fighters and autonomous drones.
Airbus emphasizes that leveraging a flight-proven airframe while adding European-developed mission systems reduces both timeline and financial requirements, while maintaining European sovereignty over critical software architecture.
MARS System and AI Integration
Kratos President of Unmanned Systems Steve Fendley described the Valkyrie-MARS combination as delivering a “multi-mission, affordable system” capable of independent operations, coordinated drone swarms, or integrated missions alongside piloted aircraft.
Marco Gumbrecht, Airbus’s Head of Key Account Germany, highlighted how this approach provides Germany and Europe with validated technology without requiring ground-up development—a priority he emphasized given current security challenges.
The Valkyrie completed its maiden flight in the United States during 2019 and has continued testing programs since that time. Airbus plans to conduct the first European flight operations in the latter half of 2026.
The aircraft features a 9.1-metre fuselage with an 8.2-metre wingspan. Performance specifications include operational range beyond 5,000 kilometres, maximum altitude of 45,000 feet, and maximum takeoff weight approaching three tons.
Eurofighter as Command Aircraft
The initiative includes modifications to Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to enable pilots to command and direct drone operations during missions.
Airbus is working with Rafael to enhance the Litening 5 Advanced Targeting Pod currently deployed on Eurofighter platforms, adding advanced connectivity capabilities. Complementary avionics modifications to the fighter aircraft are scheduled as well.
These enhancements will provide Eurofighter pilots with real-time command authority over Valkyrie drones throughout combat operations.
The Valkyrie platform supports both kinetic strike missions and non-kinetic operations—particularly those involving elevated risk levels for human pilots. Airbus states the drones can execute missions autonomously or under active direction from crewed aircraft.
For Germany’s specific requirements, Airbus and Kratos are concentrating on a defined operational capability to meet the 2029 delivery commitment.
