Airbus Defence and Space has entered a strategic partnership with U.S.-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to adapt the XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aircraft for operational use by the German Air Force by 2029.
Under the agreement, the XQ-58A—a rail-launched, low-observable drone developed by Kratos—will be integrated with a mission system designed by Airbus. The aircraft, classified as an Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA), is capable of operating both autonomously and alongside crewed fighter jets. With a maximum take-off weight of three tons, the Valkyrie can reach altitudes of 45,000 feet and has a range of approximately 3,000 miles.
Airbus's mission system is described as platform-agnostic and designed to integrate with a variety of current and future crewed and uncrewed platforms. The system architecture is intended to support flexible deployment across different mission types and operating environments.
The collaboration reflects ongoing European efforts to expand capabilities in the domain of uncrewed systems, as military planners seek both expendable and survivable air platforms to support evolving operational demands.
The partnership builds on the XQ-58A’s flight record since its first demonstration in 2019. Kratos has used the platform to test a range of autonomy functions, mission scenarios, and payload configurations. The variant intended for Germany will incorporate adaptations to align with European operational requirements.
The project is positioned as a transatlantic industrial collaboration, combining U.S.-developed uncrewed aircraft technology with European mission systems, and is expected to contribute to both NATO interoperability and European defense autonomy.