Airbus collaborates with Kratos Defense from the USA, intending to utilize a German mission system for deployment.
In a significant move for the European defence industry, Airbus Defence and Space and Kratos Defense and Security Solutions have announced a partnership to integrate Airbus' mission systems into the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie drone. The goal is to make the Valkyrie combat-ready for the German Air Force by 2029.
The Valkyrie, a flight-proven uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft, is known for its low-observable capabilities and ability to pair with manned aircraft, a team of uncrewed aircraft, or a mix of both. The collaboration between Kratos and Airbus is focused on providing both attritable and non-attritable Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
Airbus will equip the XQ-58A with its mission system, which boasts a platform-agnostic system architecture, designed to integrate seamlessly into the Valkyrie and other existing and future platforms. This integration will optimise interoperability within NATO frameworks, contributing to the growing ecosystem of crewed and uncrewed platforms.
The immediate acquisition and use of the Valkyrie as a "learning vehicle" by Airbus will facilitate operational data collection and systems validation with the German Air Force. This will pave the way for the development and integration of a sovereign European mission system built by Airbus, optimising interoperability within NATO frameworks.
The partnership aims to accelerate Europe's ability to defend itself while fostering NATO's transatlantic ties. The XQ-58A, listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker KTOS, has been in development for years and can travel 3,000 miles at an altitude of up to 45,000 ft. The Valkyrie system, first demonstrated in flight in 2019, will result in a first-to-market variant "tuned" for European missions due to the partnership with Airbus.
By 2029, the joint effort aims to deliver a fully operational collaborative combat aircraft variant capable of both attritable and non-attritable missions, enhancing Germany’s air combat capabilities ahead of longer-term projects like the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which is not expected to mature until after 2040.
Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, stated that the partnership between Kratos and Airbus will deliver crucial capabilities for warfighters in Europe before the end of the decade. The Valkyrie system, developed by Kratos, is designed to be an affordable and formidable Collaborative Combat Aircraft, making it an attractive addition to the German Air Force's arsenal.
[1] https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2025/07/airbus-defence-and-space-and-kratos-defence-and-security-solutions-announce-partnership-to-deliver-combat-ready-unmanned-aircraft-systems-for-the-german-air-force.html [2] https://www.kratosdefense.com/news/press-releases/kratos-announces-partnership-with-airbus-defence-and-space-to-deliver-combat-ready-unmanned-aircraft-systems-for-the-german-air-force [3] https://www.airbus.com/defence-and-space/products/unmanned-aircraft-systems/airbus-defence-and-space-and-kratos-defence-and-security-solutions-announce-partnership-to-deliver-combat-ready-unmanned-aircraft-systems-for-the-german-air-force.html
The collaboration between Airbus and Kratos aims to integrate Airbus' advanced mission system into the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie drone, enhancing the Valkyrie's capabilities and contributing to a growing ecosystem of crewed and uncrewed platforms. The partnership is expected to deliver a fully operational, combat-ready variant of the Valkyrie by 2029, providing crucial technology for warfighters in Europe.
