Airbus Defence and Space is readying two Kratos-built XQ-58A Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft for initial flight tests in Germany, supporting Berlin’s push for Luftwaffe reusable drone capabilities by 2029. The aircraft, sourced from U.S. partner Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, are being prepared at Airbus’ Manching facility near Munich for flights later this year, equipped with the company’s Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system.
The MARS system features an AI-enabled software layer called MindShare, designed to enable autonomous operations and coordinate manned and unmanned platforms. This setup positions the Valkyrie as a sovereign European solution atop a proven U.S. airframe, accelerating delivery for collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) roles. The drone measures 9.1 meters long with an 8.2-meter wingspan, a maximum takeoff weight of three tons, a ceiling of 45,000 feet, and a range exceeding 5,000 kilometers. First flown in the U.S. in 2019, it supports kinetic and non-kinetic missions, operating independently or teamed with Eurofighter Typhoon jets via Rafael’s Litening 5 targeting pod integration.
This advances a July 2025 Airbus-Kratos partnership to offer a Europeanized Valkyrie for Germany, framed as a faster path than new development amid Europe’s CCA race. “In the given disruptive geopolitical context, our customers have expressed an urgent demand for both attritable and non-attritable Collaborative Combat Aircraft,” said Airbus Defence and Space CEO Mike Schoellhorn. Kratos CEO Eric DeMarco noted the platform’s affordability and proven capabilities since 2019. The effort aligns with Germany’s 2029 initial operational capability target, potentially serving as a manned-unmanned teaming training asset.