# Airbus and Kratos U740 Valkyrie drone testing > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/airbus-and-kratos-u740-valkyrie-drone-testing > Updated: 2026-10-25T09:00:08.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. Airbus and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have conducted the first European test flights of the U740 Valkyrie, an uncrewed combat aircraft designed for collaborative combat operations. The tests, performed at a facility in Northern Europe, successfully demonstrated rocket-assisted takeoff (RATO) without a runway, maneuvers at various altitudes, and the ability to adjust mission parameters during flight. The aircraft reached speeds of Mach 0.8. The U740 Valkyrie is intended to function as a ‘loyal wingman’ to extend the reach and firepower of crewed fighters like the Eurofighter Typhoon. It utilizes the Airbus-developed Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system and MindShare software, which use artificial intelligence to enable autonomous operations and mission coordination while maintaining a ‘human-on-the-loop’ hierarchy for critical decisions. Technical capabilities demonstrated or noted include a range exceeding 5,000 kilometers, a service ceiling of 45,000 feet, and an internal weapons bay. The program aims to deliver combat-ready systems to Germany and other European nations by 2029. Parallel developments in manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) have also shown that pilots in aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor can direct unmanned combat aircraft via high-speed data links using voice or touch commands. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-25: Airbus and Kratos advance collaborative combat drone technology Airbus and Kratos successfully tested the U740 Valkyrie drone, advancing AI-driven collaborative combat technology designed to support manned fighter jets. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/airbus-and-kratos-advance-collaborative-combat-drone-technology ### 2026-10-12: Airbus and Kratos complete first European flight of U740 Valkyrie drone Airbus and Kratos completed the first European flight of the U740 Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft, aiming to deliver combat-ready systems to European forces by 2029. 23 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/airbus-u740-valkyrie-completes-first-combat-drone-flight-in-europe --- Cite as: Airbus and Kratos U740 Valkyrie drone testing. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/airbus-and-kratos-u740-valkyrie-drone-testing