Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie

Well, indeed she did a good job. Even adding the delicacy of a Grimm apparence to this mean looking grey wolf!
(but focus on the payload)
 
www.flightglobal.com

Kratos unveils Ragnarök cruise missile for long-range strikes

Kratos has introduced the Ragnarök cruise missile, claiming it offers a low-cost solution for long-range strikes with a 500nm range and 36kg warhead capability.
www.flightglobal.com www.flightglobal.com

Kratos has introduced a new air-launched cruise missile that it claims will offer a low-cost way to strike targets at long ranges.

The Ragnarök weapon has a range of 500nm (925km) and can carry a 36kg (80lb) warhead, according to the company.
Click to expand...

The weapon’s body makes extensive use of carbon composites and has folding wings to allow for storage and transport.

Kratos adds that Ragnarök will also be relatively cheap, with unit costs at $150,000 per round in quantities of 100. It adds that the weapon has “completed initial development phases and is ready for production”.
Click to expand...
IMG_6793.jpeg
 
raptor82 said:
…500 lbs GBU-54


https://twitter.com/x/status/1972308090310836254
View: https://x.com/thecatholicengr/status/1972308090310836254?s=46&t=5THFve96Abhx7VANdlTzrg
Click to expand...
reading a bit more on her page, found out she was possibly joining spaceX for their starship program, but she found her now husband and stayed on valkyrie. Someone else being lead structural engineer would have possibly made different design choice. Funny how non related things can change stuff on an aircraft.
 
Hydroman said:
An XQ-58 with retractable landing gear
Click to expand...
Unveiling the Valkyrie without retractable gear made no sense to begin with. Nobody is interested in launching and than later recovering a drone of that size, advertised role and complexity as if it's a small RC plane in a field.

There is a reason MQ-28, YFQ-42 and YFQ-44 have conventional landing gears. Not to mention the likes of the X-47B, S-70, or any of the multitude of drones China produces.
 
EmoBirb said:
Nobody is interested in launching and than later recovering a drone of that size, advertised role and complexity as if it's a small RC plane in a field.
Click to expand...
1200 pounds nets you 3 - 5 (3 * 600 / 356 (amraam mass) ) amraams one carried internally and 4 on the wings. It's cost is a quarter of the YFQ-42. That's not bad at all for what is supposed to be an attritable CCA. Not every platform needs to internal carry everything.

This thing was purpose built for its niche launching and recovering methods, to be undertaken at places where there the environment simply doesn't allow for roads with enough length and preparedness to accommodate geared aircraft. The 1st island chain south of Japan are filled with tiny buttfuck islands that look a little like eastern Taiwan - mountainous, with small stretches of coral and rock beaches with limited and curving roads. You can't land shit there unless its on a parachute. If you can operate an aircraft this sized out of a remote location like that to complete your sensor and shooter network, then it's not a bad deal.

Anything outside of that, then yes - the things you give up for extreme launch and recovery versatility is payload and complexity. Any use case where there are no shortage of roads / flat surfaces that accommodate geared fighters would find this plane unappealing. So the comparison is kinda... apples to oranges when this thing was built as a niche platform.
 
My guess is that CCA has requirements for RATO short strip take offs in addition to conventional landing gear. When possible, landing gear allow shorter turn around time and less heavy equipment (some king of winch/crabe is presumably required for XQ-58), but having a STOL capability using rockets and drag shoots is still a big plus when you need it. The landing gear XQ-58 apparently retains runway independent launch mode at the cost of payload.
 
daviesg said:
What about using a ski jump?
Click to expand...
That is not a very mobile solution, although there are land based relocatable arresting gear setups. That’s another option for shortening landing room, but drag chutes would take less set up (though probably be less effective).
 
Once Kratos completes the development and flight testing of the retractable gear configuration, the RATO launches should disappear all together. Having the gear opens up more operational flexibility.
 
Hydroman said:
Once Kratos completes the development and flight testing of the retractable gear configuration, the RATO launches should disappear all together. Having the gear opens up more operational flexibility.
Click to expand...
Actually they have said it retains a RATO launch capability at the expense of payload. My personal bet is that all CCAs have a RATO option, even if it still requires a short runway roll out. It would be a natural fallback option for damaged runways or road strips. A rocket assisted rolling launch would allow for shorter take offs with a smaller number of rocket bottles and arrested or drag chute landing would allow for recovery at the same location.
 
news.northropgrumman.com

Northrop Grumman to Rapidly Develop Marine Corps CCA with Kratos’ Valkyrie UAS

BALTIMORE – Jan. 8, 2026 – Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) was competitively awarded the U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
news.northropgrumman.com news.northropgrumman.com

Jan. 8, 2026 – Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) was competitively awarded the U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). This award combines Northrop Grumman’s uncrewed capabilities and autonomous leadership with Kratos’ Valkyrie uncrewed aerial system to work alongside crewed fighters to provide air dominance in high-threat environments.

Northrop Grumman will develop and rapidly deliver platforms that include:

  • Advanced Mission Kit: Northrop Grumman's cost-effective mission kit is inclusive of sensors and software-defined technologies designed specifically for uncrewed aircraft. The mission kit’s flexible technology can perform various kinetic and non-kinetic effects, making the platform a combat-ready asset.
  • Open Architecture Autonomy Software: Northrop Grumman’s open architecture autonomy software package – known as Prism – will manage the aircraft’s operations autonomously.
  • Valkyrie Uncrewed Aerial System from KratosDefense and Security Solutions: Fully equipped for a variety of missions that will include conventional takeoff and landing capabilities, enhanced runway flexibility with a modular airframe and payload bays for customizable effects.
Click to expand...
 
Interesting that the USMC is buying the landing gear version (though not surprising).
 

USMC XQ-58 Valkyrie Development Makes Leap Forward With New Contract (Updated)​

www.twz.com

USMC XQ-58 Valkyrie Development Makes Leap Forward With New Contract (Updated)

Northrop Grumman has now joined the effort to craft a fully missionized version of Kratos' XQ-58 for the Marine Corps.
www.twz.com www.twz.com

Marine XQ-58 Valkyries Will Launch Via Rockets Or Runways​

www.twz.com

Marine XQ-58 Valkyries Will Launch Via Rockets Or Runways

Rocket-launched USMC XQ-58s will still need to touch down on runways after their missions, presenting opportunities and a few tradeoffs.
www.twz.com www.twz.com
 
Last edited:
www.airbus.com

Airbus is preparing two uncrewed combat aircraft from Kratos for first flight with a European mission system

Airbus is working at full throttle to offer the German Air Force an operational Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) system by 2029.
www.airbus.com www.airbus.com

Airbus is working at full throttle to offer the German Air Force an operational Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) system by 2029. In Manching, near Munich, the company is currently preparing the first two Valkyries it acquired from its US partner Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS) for their maiden flight with a sovereign European mission system. They are scheduled to fly later this year. The two companies are bringing their respective industry-leading capabilities to integrate, missionise, and ultimately produce and deliver the Airbus UCCA system.

Airbus is currently equipping the UCCAs with its sovereign European mission system, the Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) system. MARS also contains an AI-supported software brain called MindShare which not only replaces the missing pilot, but is also capable of coordinating entire mission groups by being distributed across many manned and uncrewed platforms.
Click to expand...
 

Similar threads

Back
Top Bottom