Airbus and Kratos Complete First European Flight of U740 Valkyrie Combat Drone

Airbus and Kratos completed the first European test flight of the U740 Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft on September 29, 2026, at an undisclosed northern European test range, reaching speeds up to Mach 0.8 following a rocket-assisted launch without a runway. The 3-metric-ton aircraft measures 9.1 meters long with an 8.2-meter wingspan, offering an operating range exceeding 5,000 kilometers and a flight ceiling of 45,000 feet with internal weapons carriage. This initial flight did not carry Airbus' proprietary MARS mission system, the planned software and hardware suite intended to give European operators sovereign control over autonomous teaming and drone swarms while keeping a human in the loop. Airbus and Kratos formed their partnership in July 2025 to pitch an operational collaborative combat aircraft for the German Air Force by 2029, though the German government has not yet placed a formal procurement order. "In an increasingly complex and contested threat environment, air forces require affordable combat mass. By pairing Kratos’ proven airframe as a ‘program of record’ with Airbus’ sovereign European mission system, we are able to offer a robust, sovereign, affordable, and combat-ready CCA system by the end of the decade." — Mike Schoellhorn