DEFENCE · AEROSPACE · MILITARY TECHNOLOGY

Airbus has completed the first European test flight of the US-developed Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft, marking a significant step towards Germany’s plan to introduce combat-ready collaborative drones by 2029. Developed in partnership with American defence company Kratos, the aircraft is expected to combine a proven drone platform with Airbus’ European-designed mission system, potentially allowing it to operate alongside Eurofighter jets.

European defence manufacturer Airbus has completed the first European test flight of the Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft, advancing a programme intended to give Germany’s air force a new generation of remotely operated and autonomous military aircraft.

The flight took place over northern Europe on September 29, 2026, and Airbus announced the milestone on October 12. The aircraft, designated the U740 Valkyrie, is based on the XQ-58A Valkyrie developed by US defence company Kratos Defense & Security Solutions.

Airbus and Kratos are working to deliver an operational uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft system to the German Air Force by 2029. The proposed system is designed to operate independently, receive remote instructions or work alongside crewed fighter jets, including the Eurofighter.

The latest test is an important step, but it does not mean the aircraft is already ready for combat. Further testing, integration of Airbus’ mission software, flight trials with crewed aircraft and decisions about Germany’s final operational requirements remain ahead.

What Happened During the Valkyrie Test Flight?

According to Airbus, the European flight successfully tested several important aspects of the aircraft’s performance. The test included a rocket-assisted take-off that did not require a conventional runway, manoeuvres at different altitudes and speeds, and adjustments to the mission while the aircraft was in flight.

The aircraft reached speeds of up to Mach 0.8, equivalent to approximately 80% of the speed of sound under the relevant flight conditions. Airbus Defence and Space chief executive Michael Schoellhorn described the test as successful in comments reported by Reuters.

The flight also helped demonstrate that the programme could navigate the regulatory and operational challenges involved in testing military drones in European airspace. These challenges are important because uncrewed combat aircraft must be tested and operated under strict safety arrangements, particularly when their missions involve complex airspace and potential interaction with other aircraft.

Europe has previously encountered difficulties with military drone programmes and certification requirements. Germany cancelled the Northrop Grumman-developed Euro Hawk programme in 2013 after problems involving certification and the ability to operate the aircraft safely in European airspace.

Airbus and Kratos are seeking to avoid similar delays by progressing through a structured test programme and establishing the necessary approvals as the aircraft moves towards operational use.

Why the Valkyrie Is Different From a Conventional Fighter Jet

The Valkyrie belongs to a category known as uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft, or CCA. These aircraft are designed to support traditional fighter jets rather than simply replace them.

Conventional fighter aircraft require trained pilots onboard and involve substantial costs for acquisition, maintenance, training and operations. An uncrewed combat aircraft removes the need for a pilot to sit inside the drone, creating opportunities to undertake missions that could be dangerous or expensive for crewed aircraft.

Depending on its final configuration and approved capabilities, a collaborative combat aircraft could accompany a fighter jet, carry mission equipment, gather information, support electronic warfare or conduct other military tasks. The exact roles assigned to Germany’s Valkyrie fleet have not yet been finalised.

Instead of requiring every aircraft to carry a pilot, the concept allows a crewed fighter to coordinate with one or more uncrewed platforms. This could expand the number of aircraft available to support a mission without requiring a human pilot in every vehicle.

However, removing the onboard pilot does not eliminate the need for human oversight, reliable communications, mission planning or safeguards against technical failures. The practical level of autonomy will depend on the aircraft’s software, operating rules and the military decisions made about its deployment.

Airbus’ MARS System Will Provide the European-Controlled Mission Software

A central part of the programme is Airbus’ Multi-platform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure mission system, known as MARS. The software is intended to provide the digital infrastructure that controls mission management, coordinates aircraft and processes information needed during operations.

The European test flight was completed before Airbus’ MARS system had been integrated into the aircraft. This distinction matters: the successful flight demonstrated progress with the platform and its European testing, but it did not demonstrate the complete operational system Airbus intends to deliver to Germany.

Airbus has said the next test flight, planned for the first quarter of 2027, is expected to include MARS. A flight involving the Valkyrie operating alongside a Eurofighter is scheduled for later in 2027, according to Reuters.

Airbus has also described an AI-supported software component called MindShare within the broader MARS architecture. The company says the system is intended to support coordination across crewed and uncrewed platforms. Its real-world performance and operational limits will need to be established through further testing.

Mission software is strategically important because it determines how information is processed, how tasks are assigned and how the aircraft interacts with other platforms. A capable drone without dependable mission software and secure communications would have limited value in a complex military environment.

For European governments, controlling these functions is also a question of technological sovereignty: the ability to decide how military systems are operated, upgraded and integrated without depending entirely on a foreign supplier.

Why Airbus Is Partnering With an American Defence Company

The Valkyrie programme combines an aircraft developed in the United States with mission software designed by a European company. Kratos contributes the existing XQ-58A Valkyrie platform, while Airbus is responsible for adapting the aircraft to European requirements and integrating its own mission system.

The partnership reflects a practical challenge facing European defence industries. Developing an entirely new aircraft from the beginning can take years and require substantial investment. Starting with an existing platform that has already demonstrated flight capability may shorten the development process, although integration and operational testing still carry risks.

The arrangement also highlights a debate over Europe’s dependence on American defence technology. European governments have long relied on US equipment, software and military cooperation, but growing concern about the reliability of transatlantic relationships has increased interest in developing more independent capabilities.

Airbus has argued that the European mission system will give Germany and other potential European customers control over key operational functions, including mission applications and data management.

That approach does not remove every form of dependence on the United States. The aircraft itself is based on an American design, and the programme’s supply chain, maintenance arrangements and future production plans will influence how independently European customers can operate it.

Nevertheless, combining an existing US platform with European-controlled software could provide a faster route towards a combat-capable system than developing every component independently. The long-term question is whether that arrangement can meet Germany’s security requirements while preserving sufficient control over critical technology.

How Much Could the Valkyrie Cost?

Reuters reported that Airbus Defence and Space chief executive Michael Schoellhorn estimated the Valkyrie could cost approximately €20 million per aircraft, equivalent to around US$22 million at the exchange rate cited in the report.

That figure should be treated as an estimate rather than a confirmed final procurement price. The total cost of acquiring and operating a fleet would also depend on the number of aircraft ordered, mission equipment, software integration, training, maintenance, infrastructure and future upgrades.

Schoellhorn indicated that Germany could potentially require as many as 500 collaborative combat aircraft. However, the final number depends on the German Air Force clarifying what capabilities it wants and how the aircraft will be used.

For example, the requirements could differ significantly depending on whether the aircraft is expected to support air-to-air combat, air-to-ground missions, electronic warfare or a combination of roles. These decisions would influence the required sensors, communications equipment, mission software and other systems.

A fleet numbering in the hundreds would represent a major defence procurement programme. It could also create opportunities for European manufacturing if the order volume and industrial arrangements justified local production.

However, the possible requirement for 500 aircraft should not be interpreted as a confirmed order. Germany’s final procurement decisions will depend on military requirements, funding, testing results and negotiations with industry.

Germany’s Defence Strategy Is Moving Towards Uncrewed Systems

Germany’s interest in collaborative combat aircraft reflects a broader shift in military planning. Armed forces are increasingly exploring how uncrewed systems can work with traditional aircraft, air-defence networks, ground forces and intelligence platforms.

Recent conflicts have demonstrated the growing importance of drones in reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting and attacks. Improvements in sensors, communications and software have expanded their potential uses, while the relatively lower cost of some uncrewed systems has encouraged militaries to consider operating them in larger numbers.

Collaborative combat aircraft represent a more demanding category than many small battlefield drones. They must operate at much higher speeds, integrate with sophisticated military aircraft and satisfy complex requirements for reliability, communications and flight safety.

For Germany, the Valkyrie could become part of a broader effort to strengthen its air force and increase the number of systems available to support crewed fighter aircraft. It could also help establish the software, operating procedures and industrial expertise needed for future European uncrewed combat programmes.

The programme forms part of Airbus’ wider work on collaborative combat aircraft. The company has also presented the U760 Ravenstorm as a future platform intended to expand its uncrewed combat aircraft portfolio in the early 2030s.

These projects suggest that Airbus sees uncrewed aircraft as an increasingly important part of the future combat-air market, rather than a temporary supplement to existing fighter fleets.

The Competition to Build the Next Generation of Combat Drones

Airbus and Kratos are entering a competitive market as defence companies attempt to develop aircraft that can cooperate with crewed fighters. Major aerospace and defence businesses, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, are also active in advanced uncrewed aircraft and related technologies.

Other companies are exploring different approaches to autonomous military aviation, from reusable aircraft designed to operate alongside fighters to lower-cost platforms that could be deployed in larger numbers.

The market is attracting attention because future air forces may need to combine expensive crewed aircraft with larger groups of uncrewed systems. The balance between cost, survivability, autonomy and mission effectiveness will help determine which designs are adopted.

For Airbus, the 2029 target could provide an opportunity to establish an early position in Europe’s collaborative combat aircraft market. Meeting that deadline would require successful integration of the MARS system, further flight testing, operational evaluation and agreement on what Germany ultimately wants to purchase.

Competition will not be decided by flight performance alone. Customers will also consider software reliability, production capacity, maintenance costs, interoperability with existing aircraft and the ability to update systems as military requirements change.

The Risks and Questions That Remain

Despite the successful European flight, several important challenges remain before the Valkyrie can enter operational service.

Software integration: Airbus must demonstrate that MARS can operate reliably with the aircraft and coordinate missions as intended. The system must function under demanding conditions and work with the military platforms it is designed to support.

Flight safety and certification: Military drones must satisfy the relevant operational and airspace requirements. Autonomous or remotely controlled aircraft also need reliable systems for handling communications problems, technical failures and unexpected situations.

Human oversight: The degree of autonomy permitted during different missions will be an important policy and operational decision. Governments must establish clear rules for how human operators supervise the aircraft and make decisions involving the use of force.

Cybersecurity: An aircraft that relies on software, digital mission planning and communications must be protected against interference and cyberattacks. The security of the mission system will be as important as the aircraft’s physical performance.

Cost and procurement: Germany still needs to clarify the final operational requirements and determine how many aircraft it intends to acquire. A large fleet could offer substantial capability, but its cost would extend beyond the price of the airframes alone.

Industrial independence: The partnership combines American aircraft technology with European mission software. Future production, maintenance and supply-chain decisions will help determine how much control European customers ultimately retain.

These challenges do not mean the programme will fail. They show why a successful test flight is one milestone in a longer process rather than proof that an aircraft is ready for combat.

What Happens Before the 2029 Target?

The next major milestone is the planned integration of Airbus’ MARS mission system, with a test flight expected in the first quarter of 2027. That would move the programme beyond demonstrating the aircraft’s flight capabilities and towards testing the complete European mission architecture.

A flight involving the Valkyrie and a Eurofighter is scheduled for later in 2027. Such a test would be important because collaborative combat aircraft must be able to operate with crewed fighters rather than function only as separate drones.

Germany must also define the roles it expects the aircraft to perform and determine the size of its potential fleet. Those requirements will shape the final configuration, procurement schedule and possible production arrangements.

The 2029 target remains an objective, not a guarantee. Technical challenges, testing results, budget decisions and procurement negotiations could influence the timetable.

If the programme succeeds, Germany could gain an additional type of aircraft designed to extend the capabilities of its existing fighter force. For Airbus and Kratos, it could also provide a foundation for further collaborative combat aircraft programmes across Europe.

Key Facts

  • Aircraft: U740 Valkyrie uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft.
  • Developers: Airbus Defence and Space and US-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions.
  • European test flight: September 29, 2026, over northern Europe.
  • Flight performance: Reached speeds of up to Mach 0.8 during the reported test.
  • Mission software: Airbus’ MARS system, designed to manage missions and support cooperation between crewed and uncrewed aircraft.
  • Next major software milestone: A test flight with MARS is planned for the first quarter of 2027.
  • Eurofighter cooperation: A joint flight is scheduled for later in 2027.
  • Target date: Airbus and Kratos aim to deliver an operational system to the German Air Force by 2029.
  • Estimated price: Approximately €20 million per aircraft, according to Airbus Defence and Space’s chief executive as reported by Reuters.
  • Potential German requirement: Up to 500 aircraft has been discussed, but the final number has not been confirmed.

Airbus’ European Valkyrie test flight marks an important step in the development of collaborative combat aircraft. The programme combines an existing American drone platform with European mission software in an effort to accelerate Germany’s access to uncrewed combat capability.

The real test lies ahead: integrating the software, demonstrating cooperation with crewed fighters and agreeing on the aircraft’s final military role. If those milestones are achieved, the Valkyrie could become a significant part of Germany’s future air force and Europe’s expanding uncrewed defence industry.

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