Airbus and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have completed the first European flight of the U740 Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft, advancing development of a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) targeted for delivery to Germany and other European armed forces by 2029.
Conducted at a test facility in Northern Europe, the flight demonstrated rocket-assisted take-off, manoeuvres at different altitudes and speeds of up to Mach 0.8, and in-flight mission adjustments. Further testing will focus on integrating Airbus’ Multi-platform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system, which manages mission applications, data and aircraft hardware while enabling autonomous operations under human oversight.
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The programme combines Kratos’ uncrewed aircraft platform with Airbus’ European-controlled mission technology. The Valkyrie is designed to operate alongside crewed combat aircraft, including the Eurofighter, providing additional mission range, firepower and operational flexibility.
For the uncrewed aviation sector, the programme highlights the growing importance of integrating autonomous flight systems, mission software and onboard hardware. As development progresses, these technologies will also create requirements for software support, system integration, component maintenance and long-term fleet sustainment.
