Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie

The Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie is an experimental stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed and built by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions for the United States Air Force's Low Cost Attritable Strike Demonstrator (LCASD) program, under the USAF Research Laboratory’s Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) project portfolio. It was initially designated the XQ-222. The Valkyrie completed its first flight on 5 March 2019 at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.[1]

XQ-58 Valkyrie
The XQ-58A Valkyrie demonstrator on its inaugural flight, 5 March 2019 at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona
Role Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
National origin United States
Manufacturer Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
First flight 5 March 2019
Status In development
Primary users United States Air Force
United States Marine Corps

Development and design
A XQ-58 Valkyrie deploys an Altius-600 unmanned aircraft system

The XQ-58 Valkyrie falls within the USAF Research Laboratory’s Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) portfolio, whose objectives include designing and building unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) faster by developing better design tools and maturing and using commercial manufacturing processes to reduce production time and cost.[1] The LCAAT is to escort the F-22 or F-35 during combat missions and to deploy weapons or surveillance systems.[2][3]

The XQ-58 is designed to act as a loyal wingman that is controlled by a parent aircraft to accomplish tasks such as scouting, defensive fire, or absorbing enemy fire.[4] It features stealth technology with a trapezoidal fuselage with a chined edge, V-tail, and an S-shaped air intake.[3] The XQ-58 can operate as part of a swarm of drones, with or without direct pilot control. The XQ-58 can make conventional take-offs and landings or be launched from "nondescript launch modules", such as support ships, shipping containers, and semi-trailer trucks.[5][6]

Kratos officials have said the company could produce 250 to 500 Valkyries per year.[7] It can be produced at a unit cost of $4 million at an annual production rate of 50 aircraft, and possibly for less than $2 million if over 100 airframes are built per year.[8]

Operational history
A U.S. Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie

The XQ-58's first flight took place on 5 March 2019, about two and a half years after Kratos received the contract. A total of five test flights were planned in two phases to evaluate system functionality, aerodynamic performance, and launch and recovery systems.[1]

On 23 July 2020, the Air Force gave contracts to Kratos, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics to compete for the Skyborg program, an effort to field an unmanned wingman for manned fighters at a price that makes it somewhat expendable.[9][10][11][12] After Northrop was eliminated on 7 December 2020, Kratos, Boeing, and General Atomics delivered their entries by May 2021 for flight tests in July 2021.[13][14]

On 26 March 2021, the XQ-58A completed its sixth test flight, opening the doors of its internal weapons bay for the first time and releasing a 27 lb (12 kg) Area-I Altius-600 small unmanned aircraft system (UAS).[15][16][17]

In August 2023, a report with pictures[18] showed the XQ-58A in formation with an F-15E Strike Eagle from the 96th Test Wing’s 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

The United States Marine Corps ordered two XQ-58s in December 2022 for testing purposes under the Marine Corps Penetrating Affordable Autonomous Collaborative Killer – Portfolio (PAACK-P) program and conducted its first test flight with them at Eglin Air Force Base on 2 October 2023. In January 2023 the United States Navy also ordered two XQ-58s for tests similar to those being undertaken by the Marines.[19]

Operators
 United States

Specifications
The second XQ-58 Valkyrie taking off from Laguna Army Airfield.

Data from Kratos Defense Data sheet [20]

General characteristics

  • Capacity: 600 lb (272 kg) internal, 600 lb (272 kg) external
  • Length: 30 ft (9.1 m)
  • Wingspan: 27 ft (8.2 m)
  • Empty weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 6,000 lb (2,722 kg)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 476 kn (548 mph, 882 km/h)
  • Range: 3,000 nmi (3,500 mi, 5,600 km) approximate
  • Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (14,000 m)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
  1. "XQ-58A Valkyrie demonstrator completes inaugural flight". 88 Air Base Wing Public Affairs, Wright Patterson AFB. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  2. "Kratos to launch XQ-222 Valkyrie, UTAP-22 Mako at Paris Air Show 2017". 15 June 2017.
  3. Rogoway, Tyler (7 February 2017). "More Details On Kratos' Optionally Expendable Air Combat Drones Emerge". The Drive. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  4. Liptak, Andrew (22 May 2019). "'Skyborg' could let F-35 and F-15 fighter jets control their own companion drones". The Verge. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  5. Mizokami, Kyle (8 March 2020). "The Air Force's New Weapon Is…Shipping Containers?". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  6. Trevithick, Joseph (16 October 2019). "This Containerized Launcher For The XQ-58A Valkyrie Combat Drone Could Be A Game Changer". The Drive. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  7. Losey, Stephen (18 July 2022). "Valkyrie success may push Skyborg drone concept to other programs, Kratos says". Defense News. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  8. Marine XQ-58 Valkyries Will Be Electronic Warfare Platforms For F-35s. The Drive/The War Zone. 4 May 2023.
  9. Insinna, Valerie (24 July 2020). "Four companies win contracts to build the Air Force's Skyborg drone". Defense News. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  10. McCullough, Amy (24 July 2020). "4 Companies Move Forward in Skyborg Competition". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  11. Hitchens, Theresa (24 July 2020). "Air Force Chooses Four Contractors To Compete For Skyborg Drone". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  12. Hitchens, Theresa (28 July 2020). "AF Will Choose Skyborg Prototypes This Summer". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  13. These 3 companies will build prototypes for the Air Force’s Skyborg drone. Defense News. 7 December 2020.
  14. Three Companies Win New Skyborg Prototyping Contracts. Air Force Magazine. 8 December 2020.
  15. Insinna, Valerie (5 April 2021). "Valkyrie drone launches even smaller drone from inside payload bay". Defense News. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  16. Donald, David. "Valkyrie UAS Launches Small UAS from Weapons Bay". Aviation International News. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  17. "AFRL successfully completes XQ-58A Valkyrie flight and payload release test". www.airrecognition.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  18. XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned combat vehicle completes formation flight, Defence Connect, 2023-08-04
  19. Aaron-Matthew Lariosa (5 October 2023). "Marine Corps Experimental 'Loyal Wingman' Drone Makes First Flight". USNI News. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  20. "XQ-58A Valkyrie" (PDF). Kratos Defense. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
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