Airbus and the American company Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. have announced the successful completion of the first European test flight of the U740 Valkyrie Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA). The flight marked another milestone in the partnership between the two companies, aimed at developing a combat-capable UAV designed to operate alongside crewed military aircraft. Airbus aims to deliver a combat-ready system by 2029, addressing the operational requirements of the German and other European armed forces.
The maiden European flight of the U740 Valkyrie took place at an undisclosed test facility in Northern Europe. According to Airbus, the UAV successfully completed all planned test objectives, including a runway-independent, rocket-assisted take-off, manoeuvres at various altitudes and speeds of up to Mach 0.8, as well as in-flight mission adjustments. The successful test also paved the way for further, more complex flight trials involving Airbus’ Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system.
MARS is designed to provide European operators with sovereign control over the platform’s software, mission applications, data, and associated system hardware. Incorporating an artificial intelligence-supported software component known as MindShare, the system is intended to enable autonomous mission execution and the coordination of multiple UAVs operating as a group. MARS incorporates a strict control hierarchy that maintains human oversight of autonomous operations, with critical decisions governed by established rules of engagement and applicable legal and ethical requirements.
The U740 Valkyrie is based on the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie, a low-observable, jet-powered uncrewed aircraft originally developed in the United States under the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Low-Cost Attritable Strike Demonstrator (LCASD) programme. The American prototype made its maiden flight on 5 March 2019, with subsequent examples undergoing further flight testing and development. According to data published by Airbus, the U740 measures 9.1 metres in length and has a wingspan of 8.2 metres, a maximum take-off weight of approximately 3,000 kilogrammes, a range exceeding 5,000 kilometres and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet (approximately 13,700 metres). Some of these figures differ from specifications published by Kratos for the American XQ-58A, although the available information does not establish whether these discrepancies reflect configuration differences or variations in how technical data are reported.
One of the U740 Valkyrie’s notable features is its ability to operate without conventional runway infrastructure. It can be launched from a rail-mounted system using rocket assistance, while conventional runway take-offs and landings are also possible. Its payload configuration includes an internal weapons bay and external stations beneath the wings. Designed to operate either autonomously or under the command of crewed combat aircraft, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, the U740 is intended to undertake high-risk missions, extending the operational reach and combat capabilities of crewed fighters while reducing their exposure to enemy threats.
The partnership between Airbus Defence and Space and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, focused on developing the European UCCA system, was officially announced on 16 July 2025. Its objective was to combine the flight-proven American Valkyrie platform with a European-developed mission system. By March 2026, at the Manching facility near Munich, Germany, Airbus was preparing two UAVs acquired from Kratos for flight testing later that year. The agreement covers the integration of MARS into the Valkyrie, as well as the further development, production and eventual delivery of the European UCCA system. By adapting an existing platform rather than developing an entirely new aircraft, the companies aim to accelerate the introduction of operational capabilities while retaining European control over key mission systems.
Another important aspect of the programme is the planned integration of the Valkyrie with the Eurofighter Typhoon. To enable the fighter to serve as a command aircraft for uncrewed combat systems, Airbus is working with Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to enhance the Litening 5 Advanced Targeting Pod with additional connectivity capabilities. These modifications, combined with relatively minor updates to the Eurofighter’s avionics, are intended to allow its crew to coordinate UCCA operations and assign mission objectives to accompanying UAVs. Under this concept, the Valkyrie would execute assigned tasks with a designated level of autonomy, with potential applications including reconnaissance, electronic warfare and strikes against enemy targets, while the crewed fighter remains at a safer distance from hostile threats.
Following the successful first European flight, Airbus and Kratos intend to proceed with more advanced trials, focusing on the integration and evaluation of the MARS mission system. Subsequent stages of the programme are expected to support operational experimentation, the development of initial air-to-ground capabilities and the integration of the Valkyrie with the Eurofighter Typhoon for crewed–uncrewed teaming operations. Airbus aims to deliver an operational UCCA system to the German Air Force by 2029, with the broader programme also intended to address the requirements of other European armed forces.
The U740 Valkyrie forms part of Airbus’ broader strategy to develop a family of uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft for European armed forces. Alongside the Valkyrie, the company is developing the larger U760 Ravenstorm, unveiled at the ILA Berlin Air Show in June 2026. Designed for a wider range of missions, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes and electronic warfare, the Ravenstorm is expected to become available in the early 2030s. Both are intended to use Airbus’ MARS mission system, reflecting the company’s approach to developing autonomous combat capabilities across different types of uncrewed aircraft.
Cover photo: Airbus U740 Valkyrie takes off for its first flight in Europe. Photo © Airbus.
Airbus company press materials were used in the article.
