Airbus and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have completed the first European flight of the U740 Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft, supporting plans to deliver a combat-ready collaborative combat aircraft by 2029. The test took place at an undisclosed facility in Northern Europe and demonstrated rocket-assisted, runway-independent take-off, manoeuvres at speeds up to Mach 0.8 and in-flight mission adjustments.
The flight occurred on 29 September, although Airbus announced the result on 12 October. The U740 is based on Kratos’ XQ-58 Valkyrie airframe, which Airbus is adapting for European collaborative combat missions. The test also helped demonstrate that the US-developed aircraft can obtain the clearances needed to operate in Europe’s complex airspace.
Subsequent campaigns will introduce Airbus’ Multi-platform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system. The software is intended to support autonomous missions and coordination among multiple aircraft while providing European operators with control of mission functions and applications.
Airbus expects the first MARS-equipped flight during the first quarter of 2027, followed later that year by a flight involving a Eurofighter. The programme is aimed at Germany and other European armed forces, with Airbus targeting an operational uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft by 2029.