Kratos and Airbus prepare Valkyrie drones for European mission system test

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS) and Airbus announced they are preparing two Valkyrie unmanned aircraft for maiden flights with a European mission system later this year. The companies are developing an integrated Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft system for the German Air Force.

The joint team is integrating the Kratos Valkyrie with Airbus's Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure mission system. The aircraft are being prepared at Airbus facilities in Manching, Germany, according to the companies' joint statement.

"By combining the Kratos Valkyrie with our MARS mission system, we are offering the German customer exactly what Germany and Europe urgently need in the current geopolitical situation," said Marco Gumbrecht, Head of Key Account Germany at Airbus Defence and Space.

Steve Fendley, President of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, said the integrated system can operate independently, in teams, or in manned-unmanned teaming operations. The Valkyrie first flew in the United States in 2019, with additional aircraft flying regularly since then.

The Valkyrie measures 9.1 meters in length with an 8.2-meter wingspan and has a maximum takeoff weight of approximately three tons. The aircraft can fly at altitudes up to 45,000 feet with a range exceeding 5,000 kilometers. It features internal weapons bays and wing stations for mission equipment and weapons.

The companies are focusing initially on a specific role for the German customer to deliver combat air power capabilities. The system can be operated autonomously or commanded by a Eurofighter aircraft.

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