At the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2025 Annual Meeting in Washington D.C., Kratos Defense & Security Solutions spotlighted its XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) as a centerpiece of future massed precision strike and collaborative combat air operations. Positioned as an affordable, survivable attritable platform capable of autonomous teaming with manned assets like the F-35 and B-21 Raider, the Valkyrie is gaining traction within U.S. Air Force programs and among allied partners seeking next-generation airpower at scale.
XQ-58A Valkyrie: A Low-Cost Attritable Strike Drone
The XQ-58A Valkyrie is a stealthy, runway-independent UCAV developed by Kratos under the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) program. Designed to operate alongside fifth-generation fighters or independently in contested environments, the drone balances affordability with survivability.
Key specifications of the current Block 2 variant include:
- Length: ~8.8 meters
- Wingspan: ~6.7 meters
- Speed: High subsonic (~Mach 0.85)
- Range: Over 3,000 km (1,900+ miles)
- Payload capacity: ~272 kg (600 lbs), internal bays + wing pylons
The aircraft uses a rocket-assisted launch from a rail system and parachute recovery—eliminating dependency on runways. This makes it suitable for expeditionary operations or forward-deployed bases with limited infrastructure.
A Platform for Autonomous Teaming and AI Integration
The XQ-58 is not merely a strike drone—it serves as a testbed for advanced autonomy and manned-unmanned teaming concepts central to the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative under Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD). The aircraft has demonstrated semi-autonomous flight operations using onboard AI mission systems developed by companies like Shield AI and others.
In recent test flights—including those conducted under AFRL’s Skyborg Vanguard program—the Valkyrie has executed coordinated maneuvers with crewed aircraft while carrying mission payloads such as:
- Electronic warfare modules
- Sensors for ISR missions (EO/IR or radar)
- Air-to-ground or air-to-air munitions
This flexibility allows it to act as a decoy, sensor node, jamming platform, or weapons truck—depending on mission needs. Its low cost (~$4–6 million per unit depending on configuration) enables deployment in swarms or formations where attrition risk is acceptable.
AUSA 2025 Messaging: Massed Precision Fires & Army-Air Integration
At AUSA 2025, Kratos emphasized how platforms like the XQ-58 can support joint force objectives beyond traditional Air Force roles. In particular:
- Massed precision fires: The drone can deliver standoff munitions against high-value targets deep behind enemy lines without risking manned assets.
- Tactical ISR: Operating ahead of ground forces or artillery batteries to identify targets or conduct battle damage assessment.
- C2 relay: Acting as an airborne node to extend communications across denied environments—a key enabler for Joint All-Domain Command & Control (JADC2).
The U.S. Army has shown increasing interest in air-launched effects (ALEs), loitering munitions, and unmanned systems that integrate seamlessly into multi-domain operations—making platforms like Valkyrie relevant even outside traditional USAF procurement channels.
Export Potential and Allied Interest Rise
The modularity and cost-effectiveness of the XQ-58 make it attractive to international partners seeking high-end capabilities without full fifth-gen fighter costs. Australia has already expressed interest via its Loyal Wingman program (now MQ-28 Ghost Bat), while NATO allies exploring manned-unmanned teaming are evaluating similar options.
Kratos has stated that it is pursuing Foreign Military Sales (FMS) pathways for select configurations of the Valkyrie that meet ITAR requirements—particularly those focused on ISR or EW roles rather than kinetic strike.
Potential export use cases include:
- Saturation attacks against IADS networks using expendable drones
- Tactical ISR over maritime zones or border areas without risking pilots
- Aggressor training roles simulating peer threats at lower cost than manned red air fleets
Maturation Path Ahead: From Prototype to Operational Fleet?
The XQ-58 remains in advanced prototyping stages but has completed over a dozen successful test flights since its first launch in March 2019 at Yuma Proving Ground. The Block II variant incorporates structural improvements enabling higher payloads and longer endurance.
The next steps toward operationalization include:
- Integration with operational squadrons: USAF units may begin limited fielding under experimental squadron constructs by FY26–27.
- Munitions certification: Testing with JDAMs or SDBs would expand kinetic roles beyond ISR/EW payloads.
- CERT/AI validation: Continued work under DARPA/AFRL programs to validate secure autonomy frameworks before full-scale deployment alongside crewed fighters.
If successful within NGAD’s CCA track—or as part of broader Agile Combat Employment concepts—the Valkyrie could become one of several modular UCAV types fielded en masse across theaters by late this decade.
A Growing Ecosystem of Affordable Combat Drones
The emergence of systems like the XQ-58 reflects a broader shift toward distributed lethality via unmanned platforms that are cheap enough to lose but smart enough to matter tactically. Alongside other efforts such as Anduril’s Fury/Altius platforms or General Atomics’ Gambit family, Kratos’ offering represents one node in a rapidly expanding ecosystem targeting peer conflict scenarios where mass matters more than exquisite survivability alone.
AUSA’s focus on multi-domain integration underscores how these drones are no longer niche assets—they are becoming central tools across services seeking scalable airpower solutions amid budget constraints and pacing threats from China and Russia alike.
