The U.S. Air Force's Valkyrie Drone Will Be Flying This Year

Kratos Defense

Popular Mechanics: The Air Force Valkyrie Drone, a Sidekick for Human-Piloted Planes, Will Fly This Year

The X-58A is planned as a “loyal wingman” to crewed combat aircraft.

Later this year, the U.S. Air Force will test a new concept drone designed to act like a sidekick to combat planes with human pilots. The service sees the XQ-58A “Valkyrie,” or something very much like it, as a cost-effective way to augment the service’s current aircraft fleet.

Kratos, a builder of target drones, has been developing the XQ-58A. Under the Air Force’s “loyal wingman” concept, a drone wingman could act in concert with its crewed partner to shoot down enemy fighters, run interference for the crewed airplane as it carries out an attack, or suppress and destroy enemy air defenses before the crewed plane enters range.

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Update #1: AFRL sets first flight date for XQ-58A (Flight Global)
Update #2: US next-generation tactical drone will soon make first flight (Defense Blog)

WNU Editor: Hello to the next generation of drones.