Airbus and Kratos Fly Valkyrie Drone in Europe for the First Time

The first flight in Europe of the U740 Valkyrie, which combines the airframe of Kratos’ XQ-58 drone with Airbus’ MARS mission system, paves the way toward the goal of a combat-ready CCA by 2029.

Airbus and Kratos have announced the first flight in Europe of the XQ-58 Valkyrie uncrewed aircraft, now designated by Airbus as U740 Valkyrie. The test flight was conducted at an unspecified test facility in Northern Europe on Sept. 29, 2026, according to the images’ info.

“The flight achieved all objectives, including a runway independent rocket-assisted take-off, manoeuvers at various altitudes and speeds up to Mach 0.8, as well as in-flight mission adjustments,” said Airbus in a statement. The company added that the milestone confirms the program is on track to deliver a combat-ready uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) by 2029.

The ride of the Valkyrie

With the successful first flight of the Airbus U740 Valkyrie in Europe, we are one step closer to introducing an operational uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) to the German and other European Armed Forces.

The flight achieved all objectives, including a rocket-assisted take-off, manoeuvers at various altitudes and speeds up to Mach 0.8, and in-flight mission adjustments. These learnings will pave the way for subsequent flight tests with our MARS mission system.

Based on the Kratos-built airframe, we’re equipping the Valkyrie with our own mission system that will serve as the uncrewed CCA’s “European brain”. Ensuring full control over software as well as mission applications, data and system hardware, MARS enables German and European Armed Forces to operate the Valkyrie with full operational sovereignty.

The Valkyrie will also play a critical role in enhancing crewed combat aircraft such as the Eurofighter with extended range, firepower, and survivability. The aircraft design enables operational resilience through its rail launch capability, while offering conventional, runway based, take-off and landing as an option.

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Following the first flight, additional tests will be conducted with Airbus’ Multi-platform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system. This system is the main difference “standard” XQ-58, as the U740 combines the airframe of Kratos’ XQ-58 drone with Airbus’ MARS mission system.

“In an increasingly complex and contested threat environment, air forces require affordable combat mass,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. “By pairing Kratos’ proven airframe as a ‘program of record’ with Airbus’ sovereign European mission system, we are able to offer a robust, sovereign, affordable, and combat-ready CCA system by the end of the decade.”

The U740 Valkyrie on the ramp before its first flight in Europe. | Source: Airbus Airbus described MARS as the Valkyrie’s “European brain,” which ensures full control over software as well as mission applications, data and system hardware, and enables national German or European sovereignty from operational usage of the Valkyrie. The company says MARS employs AI-enhanced software to conduct missions autonomously and coordinate entire mission groups, with a strict control hierarchy ensuring a human remains on the loop.

“First flights typically include plenty of learning opportunities, but with the maturity of the Valkyrie system and the well-integrated Airbus and Kratos team, this flight was an amazing success,” said Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos. “We’re proud to be partnering with Airbus on the CCA opportunities in Germany and other parts of the world.”

The U740 Valkyrie

Airbus first revealed the U740 Valkyrie as the designation of its variant of the U.S.-made XQ-58A Valkyrie adapted for the European market at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) 2026 in Berlin. The aircraft is being developed in cooperation with Kratos and equipped with Airbus’ proprietary Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) Mission System.

Airbus says it aims to deliver the Valkyrie as an operational, sovereign Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) to the German Air Force and European customers by 2029. The company says the UCCA can deliver both kinetic and non-kinetic effects, and the work is “initially focusing on a specific role to deliver credible combat air power on time and on target.”

The U740 Valkyrie is prepared for its first flight. | Source: Airbus In March, Airbus disclosed that it was preparing the first two Valkyries acquired from Kratos for the first flight with a sovereign European mission system. The company has not mentioned whether the first flight was used also for some initial checks on MARS.

As mentioned, Airbus described MARS as the Valkyrie’s “European brain.” MARS also contains an AI-supported software brain called MindShare which not only replaces the missing pilot, but is also capable of coordinating entire mission groups by being distributed across many manned and uncrewed platforms, says the company.

“The Valkyrie will also play a critical role in enhancing crewed combat aircraft such as the Eurofighter with extended range, firepower, and survivability,” added Schoellhorn. “The aircraft design enables operational resilience through its rail launch capability, while offering conventional, runway based, take-off and landing as an option.”

The U740 Valkyrie will operate either autonomously or under the command of crewed fighters, such as the Eurofighter, to execute high-risk missions and protect crewed assets. To enable the Eurofighter to act as a “command aircraft,” Airbus and Rafael are working together to add a connectivity capability to the Litening 5 Advanced Targeting Pod, as well as minor updates to the Eurofighter’s avionics.