Airbus and Kratos Complete First European Valkyrie Flight, Target 2029 Combat Readiness

Airbus and U.S. defense technology company Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have completed the first European test flight of the U740 Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft, marking a significant milestone in efforts to develop autonomous combat capabilities for Germany and other European air forces.

The flight, conducted at an undisclosed test facility in Northern Europe on September 29 and announced on October 12, involved a rocket-assisted launch, maneuvers at different altitudes and speeds reaching Mach 0.8, and adjustments to the aircraft's mission during flight. According to Airbus, all planned test objectives were achieved.

The U740 is based on Kratos' XQ-58A Valkyrie platform and forms part of Airbus' effort to deliver an operational Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) capability to the German Air Force by 2029. The aircraft is intended to operate independently or alongside crewed fighters, including the Eurofighter Typhoon, extending their operational reach while reducing risks to pilots.

European Mission System Integration Planned for 2027

The initial European flight was conducted without Airbus' proprietary Multi-platform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system, which is central to the company's plans for the aircraft.

MARS is designed to provide European control over mission software, operational data and autonomous decision-support functions. It incorporates artificial intelligence to coordinate multiple crewed and uncrewed aircraft while maintaining human oversight of critical operational decisions.

Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn told Reuters that the company expects to conduct the next Valkyrie flight with the MARS system installed during the first quarter of 2027. The first flight involving coordination with a Eurofighter is planned for later that year.

The arrangement reflects a broader European defense industry strategy of combining established American platforms with European-developed mission technologies. For Airbus, this approach could accelerate the introduction of new capabilities without requiring the development of an entirely new aircraft.

Germany Could Require Hundreds of Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Schoellhorn estimated that Germany could eventually need approximately 500 collaborative combat aircraft, although the German Air Force has yet to finalize its operational requirements. Potential missions include air-to-air combat, strikes against ground targets and electronic warfare.

The Airbus executive estimated the Valkyrie's unit cost at approximately €20 million. These figures represent industry estimates rather than confirmed German procurement commitments, and no order for 500 aircraft has been announced.

The aircraft has a reported range exceeding 5,000 kilometers, a maximum takeoff weight of approximately three tonnes and an operating ceiling of 45,000 feet. It is equipped with an internal weapons bay and external payload stations.

Airbus and Kratos are targeting combat readiness by 2029, but the program must still demonstrate the integration of its European mission system and operational cooperation with crewed aircraft. The successful European flight represents an early step toward those objectives rather than completion of the operational capability.