Airbus, Kratos Complete First European Flight of U740 Valkyrie

Airbus and Kratos completed the first European flight of the U740 Valkyrie on Oct. 12, advancing a program aimed at delivering an uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) to European forces by 2029.

The test took place at an undisclosed facility in Northern Europe. The aircraft performed a rocket-assisted takeoff without a conventional runway, maneuvered at multiple altitudes and reached speeds of up to Mach 0.8. It also adjusted its mission while airborne, and the test met all objectives.

The flight is part of a program combining Kratos’ Valkyrie airframe with Airbus’ Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure, or MARS, mission system. MARS provides control over the aircraft’s software, mission applications, data and hardware.

Airbus plans to conduct more advanced flights involving MARS. The system is intended to support autonomous missions and coordination among aircraft while retaining human oversight for critical decisions.

Airbus and Kratos are targeting a combat-ready CCA for Germany and other European armed forces by 2029. The aircraft is designed to operate autonomously or under the command of crewed platforms such as the Eurofighter, carrying out high-risk missions and extending the reach and survivability of crewed aircraft.

The U740 Valkyrie measures 9.1 meters in length and has an 8.2-meter wingspan. Its maximum takeoff weight is approximately three tonnes, its range exceeds 5,000 kilometers and its service ceiling is 45,000 feet.

The aircraft is based on Kratos’ XQ-58A Valkyrie, whose first flight took place in the United States in 2019. The Oct. 12 test was the U740’s first flight in Europe, rather than the first flight of the broader Valkyrie design.

“In an increasingly complex and contested threat environment, air forces require affordable combat mass,” Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, said.

Eric DeMarco, president and CEO of Kratos, described the flight as “an amazing success.” Airbus and Kratos are targeting a combat-ready CCA system by the end of the decade.