U.S. Air Force Releases Video of New Combat Drone, The XQ-58A Valkyrie

Warzone/The Drive: Air Force's Secretive XQ-58A Valkyrie Experimental Combat Drone Emerges After First Flight

The QX-58 may lead to a whole new class of highly-flexible and affordable unmanned combat air vehicles that could revolutionize how the USAF fights.

Just a week after Boeing unveiled their export-centric 'loyal wingman' combat drone concept, the Air Force Research Lab has announced that their own similar endeavor, dubbed the XQ-58A Valkyrie, has made its first flight. It also posted the very first image of the aircraft that has been developed under a veil of secrecy over the last two and half years.

A press release from the USAF about the aircraft's first flight reads:

The XQ-58A Valkyrie demonstrator, a long-range, high subsonic unmanned air vehicle completed its inaugural flight March 5, 2019 at Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona. The Air Force Research Laboratory partnered with Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems to develop the XQ-58A.

Read more ....

More News On The U.S. Air Force's New Combat Drone The XQ-58A Valkyrie

US Air Force tests experimental XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned fighter jet for ‘loyal wingman’ air warfare role -- SCMP/Washington Post
Meet the XQ-58A Valkyrie: The Air Force's New Stealth Wonder Weapon? -- National Interest
Air Force Tests New “Loyal Wingman” Sidekick Drone for Combat -- Popular Mechanics
US ‘Loyal Wingman’ Takes Flight: AFRL & Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie -- Breaking Defense
Air Force Releases Video of New Combat Drone, the XQ-58A Valkyrie -- Gizmodo
WATCH US Show Off Highly Secretive Stealth Combat Drone -- Sputnik

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.

Read more ....

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.