Airbus and Kratos completed the first European flight of the U740 Valkyrie on September 29, reaching speeds of up to Mach 0.8. The companies aim for a combat-ready version by 2029.
According to ecosistemastartup.com, the U740 Valkyrie has already flown in Europe. The aircraft, a product of the alliance between Airbus and the American Kratos, was rocket-assisted during its takeoff on September 29, 2026 at a testing facility in northern Europe, the location of which has not been disclosed.
During the flight, the drone manoeuvred at various altitudes, reached Mach 0.8, and changed its mission mid-flight. Airbus announced the results on October 12 and stated that all planned objectives were met.
The U740 is a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), a combat drone designed to fly alongside manned fighters. The two companies aim to have the proposal ready for combat by 2029, with Germany as the first target customer.
Kratos contributes the XQ-58A Valkyrie, the American drone on which the project is based. Airbus adds the MARS mission system (Multi-platform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure) and the MindShare software, which coordinates groups of manned and unmanned aircraft under human supervision. According to Airbus, this combination leaves European customers in control of applications, data, and essential functions.
Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, stated:
“In an increasingly complex and contested threat environment, air forces need affordable combat mass.”
Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos, attributed the success of the first flight to the system's maturity and the integration of both companies' teams.
The U740 measures 9.1 metres in length and has a wingspan of 8.2 metres. It features an internal weapons bay and hardpoints under the wings, weighs around three tonnes at takeoff, has an announced range of over 5,000 kilometres, and an operational ceiling of 45,000 feet (approximately 13,700 metres).
The original XQ-58A, developed with the United States Air Force Research Laboratory, first flew on March 5, 2019. In March 2026, Airbus indicated it was preparing two Valkyries acquired from Kratos for flight testing in Manching, near Munich, and the two companies partnered in July 2025.
Germany is seeking armed forces prepared for high-intensity conflict by 2029. The Luftwaffe needs combat drones that enhance its offensive capability without exposing its pilots. Airbus and Israeli Rafael are working to enable the Eurofighter to control these aircraft through new connectivity capabilities in the Litening 5 pod and minor avionics modifications.
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