Airbus and Kratos have completed the first European flight of the U740 Valkyrie, a version of the U.S.-developed uncrewed combat aircraft that Airbus plans to equip with a European autonomous mission system for operations alongside fighters such as the Eurofighter.
The flight took place at an undisclosed test facility in Northern Europe. The U740 performed a rocket-assisted takeoff without a runway, conducted maneuvers at different altitudes and reached speeds of up to Mach 0.8, according to Airbus. The aircraft also received mission adjustments during the flight.
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The milestone does not represent the first flight of the Valkyrie itself. Kratos’ XQ-58A Valkyrie first flew in the United States in March 2019 and has since been used in several U.S. military test programs.
Airbus and Kratos announced their partnership in July 2025, combining the existing Valkyrie airframe with European mission systems. The companies aim to offer Germany and other European customers a combat-ready Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) by 2029.
European brain
The main difference between the U740 program and the original American Valkyrie is Airbus’ Multi-platform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system.
MARS is intended to provide autonomous mission execution and coordination between multiple aircraft while giving Germany and other European operators control over software, mission applications, data and system hardware.
Airbus describes the system as the aircraft’s “European brain.” Its AI-assisted software is designed to coordinate groups of aircraft while retaining human authority over critical decisions.
The October flight, however, did not constitute the main demonstration of MARS. Airbus said the sortie clears the way for subsequent, more complex flight tests with the mission system.
https://x.com/AirbusDefence/status/2109576658516635976
Airbus had disclosed in March that it was preparing two Valkyries acquired from Kratos for flight testing in Europe during 2026. The aircraft were being prepared in Manching, Germany, as part of work toward integrating the platform with European systems.
The company has not disclosed the exact date of the latest flight or identified the Northern European test facility where it took place.
Existing aircraft for near-term requirement
Using the already-developed Kratos airframe allows Airbus to pursue a shorter timetable than would be possible with an entirely new combat aircraft.
The U740 is 29.9 feet (9.1 meters) long and has a wingspan of 26.9 feet (8.2 meters). It has a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 6,600 lb (3,000 kg), a range exceeding 3,100 miles (5,000 km) and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet.
The aircraft has an internal weapons bay and external stations beneath its wings. It can operate autonomously or receive commands from crewed aircraft, with Airbus specifically identifying the Eurofighter as a potential partner.
Its launch system also allows operations without a conventional runway, although the aircraft can use runways for takeoff and landing.
Airbus is separately developing the U760 Ravenstorm, an uncrewed combat aircraft unveiled in 2026 and intended for availability in the early 2030s. The U740 provides a nearer-term route to fielding a European-controlled CCA while Airbus develops its own platform.
The next phase of the Valkyrie campaign will therefore shift attention from the already proven Kratos airframe to the European systems installed aboard it, with further flights planned to evaluate MARS and its autonomous mission capabilities.
