AFRL/Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie to Begin Flight Tests This Autumn

So I learned that the earlier demonstration phase for this involving Kratos (pre -Valkryie) included demonstrating high-g requirements for both defensive survivability as well as a A2A requirement. I haven't been able to pin down what if anything of those requirements survived from the demonstration phase into the Valkrie program. Even a double- or triple -mount under each wing with no onboard sensors would open up some interesting tethering possibilities operationally.

www.flightglobal.com...

It's drones all the way down...

In more seriousness, I'd think collaborating with Raytheon with their Coyote or whatever company takes over the follow-on to the Perdix would be really good choices. Stuff the internal bay of the Valkyrie full of chaff dispensers and away you go. Great little recon swarm then.

Or if you want to start going down the nightmare fuel route, then upgrade the Perdix with 40mm grenades.

Either way, the Valk will be more volume constrained than weight.

www.janes.com...

She flew again.

Should be hearing a lot about this in the coming months. $$$

USAF wants 20 to 30.

quite possibly putting skyborg on them.

www.defensenews.com... lkyrie-drones/

a reply to: anzha
Try this one.
Kratos

Kratos is expecting between 30 to 40 Valkyries to be ordered by year's end and for the Valk to become a program of record.

www.janes.com...

a reply to: anzha

Don't be surprised if the Marines get involved as this rolls forward.

Flight test 3 was completed October 9th. The aircraft completed all its test points, but was damaged on landing. The test aircraft uses an airbag and parachute system to land, and a combination of wind and an issue with the airbag apparently resulted in the damage.

www.flightglobal.com...

www.c4isrnet.com...

www.thedrive.com...

Soooo...will we see the USAF do a stringray to the valkyrie?

a reply to: anzha

Turning a disposable drone into a comm node. Just brilliant.

Depends on how quickly they can communicate.Also can they pass on data to A10,s,Ah64,s and various land based weapons like tanks and artillery.Or helmet cams for troops...?

4th flight was a success.

www.flightglobal.com...

www.wpafb.af.mil...

breakingdefense.com...

Nestled in the Senates version of the NDAA:

Requires a plan for the operational test and utility evaluation of the Low-Cost Attributable Aircraft Technology System, an innovative solution with game-changing capability and capacity, and increases funds by $128 million above the President’s request to purchase addition (sic) XQ-58 aircraft and operationally relevant testing

www.armed-services.senate.gov...

Even if 3/4 of that money is going to testing and paperwork, that leaves $32M for Kratos to bang out more Valkyries. That could be as little as 10 or 11 more or as much as 16. It could be more if more of that extra allocation is spent on new aircraft rather than more testing. And this is in addition to whatever was already allocated for the USAF to buy Valks. (10, I think?)

It is conceivable we will see as much as 30 or 40 Valkyries ordered in FY21.

For fun, since you've bumped this.