[CLSTR]
< Back to all clusters
[TECHNOLOGY] · Germany, United States, France · 23 sources

started · updated

Part of situation: Airbus and Kratos U740 Valkyrie drone testing (2 clusters)

Airbus and Kratos complete first European flight of U740 Valkyrie drone

U740 Valkyrie Collaborative Combat Aircraft uncrewed combat aircraft MARS mission system defense technology

Airbus and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have successfully completed the first European test flight of the U740 Valkyrie, an uncrewed combat aircraft. The flight, conducted at a facility in Northern Europe, met all primary objectives, including a rocket-assisted takeoff (RATO) that did not require a runway, maneuvers at various altitudes, and in-flight mission adjustments. The aircraft reached speeds of up to Mach 0.8 during the test.

The U740 Valkyrie is a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) designed to operate alongside crewed fighters, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, to extend their operational reach, firepower, and survivability. The program aims to deliver combat-ready systems to Germany and other European nations by 2029. A key component of the project is the Airbus-developed Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system. Described as the aircraft’s ‘European brain,’ MARS utilizes AI-enhanced software to enable autonomous operations and mission coordination while maintaining a ‘human-on-the-loop’ hierarchy for critical decision-making and ethical compliance.

Technical specifications for the U740 include a maximum takeoff weight of approximately three metric tons, a range exceeding 5,000 kilometers, and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. The aircraft features an internal weapons bay and is designed for operational flexibility, supporting both rail-launched operations and conventional runway takeoffs and landings.

Entities

Airbus · Airbus Defence and Space · Eurofighter Typhoon · Germany · Kratos Defense & Security Solutions · Mike Schoellhorn · U740 Valkyrie

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

L’aereo da combattimento senza pilota Airbus U740 Valkyrie fa il primo volo in Europa [italiavola.com]
Airbus-Kratos Valkyrie Unmanned Combat Aircraft Completes First Flight Ahead of 2029 Combat Target [www.256businessnews.com]
Airbus, Kratos complete first European Valkyrie drone flight [avitrader.com]
AvioBlog - Airbus U740 Valkyrie combat drone completes first flight in Europe [avioblog.it]
Release - Airbus U740 Valkyrie Uncrewed Combat Aircraft Takes off for First European Test Flight [www.channelchek.com]
Валкyрие први пут полетео у Европи: Аирбус и Кратос циљају дрон-пратиоца за Еурофигхтер до 2029. [tvfront.rs]
Schaeffler assemblera des drones pour l'armée française [www.autoactu.com]
Cet appareil de combat a décollé sans pilote : Airbus reste discret sur le cadre de ce premier vol [lopinion.com]
TEKEVER s'installe à Munich après une levée de 580 millions de dollars [armees.com]
Realiza Airbus primer vuelo del avión de combate no tripulado U740 Valkyrie [a21.com.mx]
U740 Valkyrie : l'Europe entre dans l'ère du drone de combat autonome [www.politiquematin.fr]
Europa testira novu borbenu letjelicu: u740 Valkyrie dosegnuo Mach 0,8 [kamenjar.com]
Bezzałogowiec bojowy Airbus U740 Valkyrie wykonał pierwszy lot w Europie – MILMAG [milmag.pl]
The first European flight of the U740 Valkyrie combat drone, future partner of the Eurofighter [www.outono.net]
Des ailiers IA pour protéger les avions de chasse ? Airbus teste un nouveau drone de combat | Toute l’actualité en France et dans le Monde - upday News [www.upday.com]
Décupler la production: un groupe automobile allemand assemblera des drones pour l'armée française [information.tv5monde.com]
Germany Aligns With United States as Airbus U740 Valkyrie Advances European Military Aviation Technology [www.travelandtourworld.com]
エアバス、無人戦闘機U740「ヴァルキリー」欧州初飛行　29年までに実用化へ [www.aviationwire.jp]
Novi evropski borbeni dron imaće AI mozak: Airbus U740 Valkyrie poleteo, Nemačka ga želi do 2029. [aero.telegraf.rs]
Airbus U740 Valkyrie completes first flight in Europe [www.aerotime.aero]
Fabricante de drones Tekever voa para Munique e contará com 15 pessoas na equipa inicial [sapo.pt]
Airbus U740 Valkyrie : le drone de combat a volé en Europe, mais son « cerveau » souverain n'était pas à bord [www.numerama.com]
Valkyrie combat drone flies in Europe with range topping 3,100 miles [interestingengineering.com]