Airbus completes first European flight of U740 Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft
Airbus completed the first European flight of its U740-Valkyrie uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft with partner Kratos, testing rocket-assisted takeoff, maneuvers up to Mach 0.8 and in-flight mission changes.
1. Flight test objectives
The test met key objectives, including rocket-assisted takeoff, maneuvers up to Mach 0.8 and in-flight mission changes. The program targets delivery of a combat-ready Collaborative Combat Aircraft by 2029 for Germany and other European armed forces.
2. Mission system plans
Next flights will integrate Airbus’ MARS mission system, designed to keep software, data and mission applications under European control. MARS uses AI-enabled autonomy with a human-in-the-loop control structure for rules-of-engagement compliance.
