Airbus Prepares Unmanned Combat Drones: First Flights Expected by 2026
Airbus is preparing two unmanned Valkyrie aircraft acquired from its American partner Kratos Defense & Security Solutions for their initial flights with a sovereign European mission system. Flight tests are scheduled for 2026.
Collaboration on Unmanned Combat Aircraft System (UCCA)
Airbus and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions are collaborating to provide the German Luftwaffe with an operational Unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) system by 2029. At the Manching base near Munich, Airbus is integrating the first two Valkyries acquired from Kratos with its sovereign European mission system called Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS). This system includes MindShare, an AI-assisted software designed to replace the pilot and coordinate entire mission groups across multiple manned and unmanned platforms.
Specifications and Initial American Flight
The Valkyrie has a length of 9.1 meters, a wingspan of 8.2 meters, and a range exceeding 5,000 kilometers. Its maximum takeoff weight is about three tons. The aircraft can fly at a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet. The first flight of the American Valkyrie took place in 2019. The two aircraft being prepared in Germany are scheduled to perform their first flights with the MARS system in 2026.
Operational Flexibility and Enhanced Targeting Capabilities
The Valkyrie can operate fully autonomously or be commanded by an Eurofighter to carry out sensitive missions too dangerous for a pilot. Initially, Airbus and Kratos are focusing on a specific role aimed at delivering credible combat air power on time. Concurrently, Airbus and Rafael are enhancing the Litening 5 targeting pod, already contracted for the Eurofighter fleet, by integrating connectivity capabilities that allow the Eurofighter to serve as a command aircraft with inter-platform connectivity performance.
