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Kratos Demonstrates Valkyrie Beyond-Line-of-Sight Command & Control During Flight
USMC Valkyrie validates BLOS control and electronic warfare capabilities while operating alongside F-35 and F/A-18 aircraft during flight testing.
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Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and its military partners have successfully validated beyond-line-of-sight command and control for a missionized United States Marine Corps collaborative combat aircraft. This integration enables operational remote control of autonomous unmanned aerial systems alongside manned tactical aviation within contested electronic warfare environments.
Autonomous Integration and Command Control Mechanisms
During operations at a Southern California U.S. Navy test range in April 2026, the runway-independent Valkyrie launched via a zero-length launcher to characterize its beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) datalink system. The platform executed a seamless transfer from the primary Kratos ground control station to an Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA)-compliant human-machine interface developed by Autonodyne, LLC. This standardized architectural framework allowed a dedicated United States Marine Corps (USMC) operator to establish and maintain full BLOS command and control (C2) over the vehicle throughout the mission envelope.
Manned-Unmanned Teaming and Electronic Warfare Execution
The Valkyrie integrated into a joint tactical formation flying alongside multiple USMC F-35 stealth fighters and an F/A-18 aircraft. During the flight, the unmanned system successfully completed coordinated electronic warfare (EW) test objectives. Following the execution of its payload requirements, the aircraft utilized its vendor-agnostic autonomy systems to navigate and return autonomously to a designated recovery point. The Integrated Test Team, led by the Expeditionary Maritime Aviation-Advanced Development Team (XMA-ADT), executed the operation with direct support from Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Autonodyne, LLC, and multiple Naval and Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadrons.
Scalable Production and Modular Systems Architecture
Steve Fendley, President of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, stated that this represents the fourth distinct mission system configuration flown on the platform in under three years, reflecting an open systems architecture that accommodates varied payloads, subsystems, and datalinks. He added that the company expects to deliver over 150 Group 5 unmanned jet aircraft in 2026, scaling production capacity to approximately 40 Valkyries annually to support domestic and international deployment requirements.
Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft Program Advancement
This flight test aligns with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Unmanned Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) contract awarded to Kratos and Northrop Grumman Corporation in January 2026. Under this framework, the companies are developing missionized platforms that incorporate Northrop Grumman's open architecture autonomy software and mission kits. The first prototype for this configuration is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2026, providing a low-risk, rapid deployment pathway for collaborative combat operations.
Additional Context:
This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement
The XQ-58A Valkyrie is engineered as a low-cost, attritable loyal wingman platform. It operates at a maximum cruise speed of approximately Mach 0.72 and can achieve a range exceeding 3,000 kilometers with a payload capacity of 272 kilograms housed in internal weapons bays. Its reliance on zero-length rocket-assisted launch systems and parachute recovery removes the necessity for conventional runways, a critical operational advantage in expeditionary environments. In the collaborative combat aircraft ecosystem, the Valkyrie competes with platforms such as the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat. The Ghost Bat, designed initially for the Royal Australian Air Force, offers a more mature international footprint with over 150 test flights completed and integration into joint exercises with airborne early warning aircraft and fighters. While the MQ-28 relies on traditional runway operations, the Valkyrie's distinct runway-independence and lower unit cost structure position it specifically for rapid, distributed deployment in austere or forward-operating maritime environments.
Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals editor, assisted by AI.
www.kratosdefense.com
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and its military partners have successfully validated beyond-line-of-sight command and control for a missionized United States Marine Corps collaborative combat aircraft. This integration enables operational remote control of autonomous unmanned aerial systems alongside manned tactical aviation within contested electronic warfare environments.
Autonomous Integration and Command Control Mechanisms
During operations at a Southern California U.S. Navy test range in April 2026, the runway-independent Valkyrie launched via a zero-length launcher to characterize its beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) datalink system. The platform executed a seamless transfer from the primary Kratos ground control station to an Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA)-compliant human-machine interface developed by Autonodyne, LLC. This standardized architectural framework allowed a dedicated United States Marine Corps (USMC) operator to establish and maintain full BLOS command and control (C2) over the vehicle throughout the mission envelope.
Manned-Unmanned Teaming and Electronic Warfare Execution
The Valkyrie integrated into a joint tactical formation flying alongside multiple USMC F-35 stealth fighters and an F/A-18 aircraft. During the flight, the unmanned system successfully completed coordinated electronic warfare (EW) test objectives. Following the execution of its payload requirements, the aircraft utilized its vendor-agnostic autonomy systems to navigate and return autonomously to a designated recovery point. The Integrated Test Team, led by the Expeditionary Maritime Aviation-Advanced Development Team (XMA-ADT), executed the operation with direct support from Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Autonodyne, LLC, and multiple Naval and Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadrons.
Scalable Production and Modular Systems Architecture
Steve Fendley, President of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, stated that this represents the fourth distinct mission system configuration flown on the platform in under three years, reflecting an open systems architecture that accommodates varied payloads, subsystems, and datalinks. He added that the company expects to deliver over 150 Group 5 unmanned jet aircraft in 2026, scaling production capacity to approximately 40 Valkyries annually to support domestic and international deployment requirements.
Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft Program Advancement
This flight test aligns with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Unmanned Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) contract awarded to Kratos and Northrop Grumman Corporation in January 2026. Under this framework, the companies are developing missionized platforms that incorporate Northrop Grumman's open architecture autonomy software and mission kits. The first prototype for this configuration is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2026, providing a low-risk, rapid deployment pathway for collaborative combat operations.
Additional Context:
This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement
The XQ-58A Valkyrie is engineered as a low-cost, attritable loyal wingman platform. It operates at a maximum cruise speed of approximately Mach 0.72 and can achieve a range exceeding 3,000 kilometers with a payload capacity of 272 kilograms housed in internal weapons bays. Its reliance on zero-length rocket-assisted launch systems and parachute recovery removes the necessity for conventional runways, a critical operational advantage in expeditionary environments. In the collaborative combat aircraft ecosystem, the Valkyrie competes with platforms such as the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat. The Ghost Bat, designed initially for the Royal Australian Air Force, offers a more mature international footprint with over 150 test flights completed and integration into joint exercises with airborne early warning aircraft and fighters. While the MQ-28 relies on traditional runway operations, the Valkyrie's distinct runway-independence and lower unit cost structure position it specifically for rapid, distributed deployment in austere or forward-operating maritime environments.
Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals editor, assisted by AI.
www.kratosdefense.com
