Airbus Prepares Valkyrie Uncrewed Combat Aircraft for Flight Tests

Airbus is accelerating its efforts to deliver a new generation of collaborative combat aircraft to the German Air Force, with two uncrewed aircraft now being prepared for flight testing in Germany. The aircraft, based on the Kratos Valkyrie platform, are currently undergoing integration with a European-developed mission system and are expected to make their first flights later in 2026.

The work is taking place at Airbus’ facility in Manching, near Munich, where engineers are equipping the aircraft with the company’s sovereign mission architecture known as the Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) system. Airbus aims to offer the German Air Force a fully operational Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) capability by 2029.

The initiative represents a collaboration between Airbus Defence and Space and US-based Kratos Defence & Security Solutions. While Kratos provides the proven Valkyrie airframe, Airbus is responsible for integrating the advanced European mission systems that will enable the aircraft to operate autonomously or in coordinated teams with crewed combat aircraft.

At the core of the system is the MARS mission architecture, which incorporates an artificial intelligence-driven control framework known as MindShare. This software-based system effectively replaces the onboard pilot, managing flight operations and mission execution while coordinating activities across multiple platforms. The system can be distributed across both crewed and uncrewed aircraft, allowing them to operate as a cohesive combat network.

According to Airbus, this approach allows the company to rapidly field a capable uncrewed combat aircraft without the need to develop an entirely new platform from scratch. Instead, the strategy combines a flight-proven airframe with advanced European mission software designed to meet the operational and sovereignty requirements of European armed forces.

Marco Gumbrecht, Head of Key Account Germany at Airbus Defence and Space, said the solution addresses both the urgency and affordability challenges facing European defence programmes. “By combining the Kratos Valkyrie with our MARS mission system, we are offering the German customer exactly what Germany and Europe urgently need in the current geopolitical situation,” he said. “It is a proven uncrewed combat aircraft paired with a sovereign European mission system that avoids the time and cost of developing a completely new aircraft,” Gumbrecht emphasised that Airbus intends to deliver a credible combat capability within a relevant operational timeframe while ensuring that key technologies remain under European control.

Kratos has welcomed the partnership, highlighting the advantages of integrating Airbus’ mission systems with an aircraft that has already demonstrated its performance through multiple flight tests in the United States. Steve Fendley, President of the Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, said the collaboration enables the rapid development of a versatile and cost-effective combat platform. “By combining the flight-proven Valkyrie with the Airbus MARS mission system, we are creating a multi-mission, affordable capability that can operate independently, in teams of uncrewed aircraft, or as part of manned-unmanned teaming operations.”

A key concept behind the programme is the idea of “affordable mass” – deploying larger numbers of relatively low-cost uncrewed aircraft to complement high-value crewed combat platforms. This approach is increasingly viewed as essential in modern high-intensity warfare scenarios, where survivability and operational flexibility are critical.

The Airbus-modified Valkyrie aircraft will be able to carry out a range of missions, including both kinetic strike operations and non-kinetic roles such as electronic warfare, reconnaissance and decoy operations. By operating in concert with crewed aircraft, the UCCA can undertake high-risk tasks that would otherwise expose pilots to significant danger.

One of the aircraft expected to work closely with the system is the Eurofighter Typhoon. Airbus is developing capabilities that would allow the fighter to act as a command platform for groups of uncrewed aircraft during missions. To support this concept, Airbus is working with Rafael to enhance the Litening 5 Advanced Targeting Pod already planned for the Eurofighter fleet. The upgraded system will include new connectivity features designed to enable secure communication and control links between the fighter and the accompanying uncrewed aircraft.

Combined with minor updates to the Eurofighter’s avionics, these improvements are expected to significantly enhance the fighter’s effectiveness in collaborative combat operations.

The Kratos Valkyrie itself is a relatively compact but capable platform. The aircraft measures approximately 9.1 metres in length with a wingspan of 8.2 metres and has a maximum take-off weight of around three tonnes. It can operate at altitudes of up to 45,000 feet and has a range exceeding 5,000 kilometres, making it suitable for long-endurance missions across a wide operational area.

The Valkyrie first flew in the United States in 2019, and several examples have since conducted regular flight operations as part of various test and demonstration programmes.

If Airbus completes integration and flight testing of its European mission system this year, the programme could represent a significant step toward fielding collaborative combat aircraft capabilities within Europe before the end of the decade.