Airbus eyes CCA flights with Kratos tech
Airbus is reportedly planning European collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) flights using Kratos' Valkyrie autonomous tech this year, signaling growing integration of unmanned loyal wingman platforms with established airframes. That suggests more work for aerodynamicists on autonomy‑aero interactions and propulsion integration for optionally‑manned operations. (x.com)
Airbus’ March 13, 2026 press release names Manching, near Munich, as the site where the company is configuring the first two Valkyrie airframes acquired from Kratos for integration with a European mission system. (airbus.com ) The Airbus mission system being fitted is called MARS — the Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure system — and Airbus says MARS includes an AI-supported software layer called MindShare designed to coordinate distributed manned and unmanned assets. (airbus.com ) Airbus and Kratos state the joint offering is targeted for an operational Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) capability for the German Air Force by 2029, positioning the effort as a sovereign European missionised variant of the Valkyrie platform. (airbus.com ) Kratos’ specifications cited by the partners list the XQ‑58A Valkyrie at 9.1 m length, 8.2 m wingspan, a maximum takeoff weight near three tonnes, an operational ceiling up to 45,000 ft, and a long-range capability reported as more than 5,000 km. (kratosdefense.com ) Airbus’ July 16, 2025 announcement with Kratos described the XQ‑58A as a low‑observable, rail‑launched design that first demonstrated flight capability in 2019 and was chosen to be “tuned” for a European mission set. (airbus.com ) Airbus says the integration work includes enabling a Eurofighter to act as a command aircraft via enhanced connectivity to the Litening 5 targeting pod in cooperation with Rafael, while Kratos highlights the Valkyrie as an in‑production, high‑subsonic tactical UAS marketed for “affordable mass” deployment; Kratos is listed on NASDAQ as KTOS. (airbus.com ) (kratosdefense.com )
