The U.S. Marine Corps has begun practical testing of autonomous combat drones intended to operate alongside crewed fighter aircraft in high-threat environments. The development effort involves a collaboration between Northrop Grumman and Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, which both companies announced earlier this week.
Under this partnership, Northrop Grumman is applying its experience in aerospace and defense systems to support further development of the Valkyrie unmanned platform, originally designed by Kratos. The primary objective of the collaboration is to prepare the drone for coordinated operations with Marine Corps crewed fighters in complex combat conditions, where risks to manned aviation assets are elevated.
In the longer term, Valkyrie is expected to function as an autonomous adjunct to crewed aircraft. Such a platform could assume a portion of the operational risk, draw adversary fire, and provide support during aerial engagements, thereby reducing pilot workload and exposure to threats.
Development of this concept is being pursued under the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft program (MUX TACAIR). The program aims to establish operational capabilities for uncrewed aircraft in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) category – autonomous combat platforms designed to operate in coordination with conventional crewed aviation.
Over the past several years, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corps have conducted extensive testing of Kratos’ Valkyrie drone, officially designated the XQ-58. These efforts have been supported in part by the Air Force’s Skyborg program, which focused on advancing CCA-related technologies. In parallel, the Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy have pursued their own initiatives in this area, adapting the underlying concepts to their specific operational requirements.
CCA systems are unmanned aircraft capable of conducting combat missions with limited direct pilot input, operating alongside crewed platforms. The U.S. Air Force has identified such systems as a priority capability. Potential roles include autonomous strike missions, participation in electronic warfare through signal jamming, and serving as decoys to divert enemy fire from crewed fighters. These platforms are intended to complement existing aircraft such as the F-35, as well as next-generation fighters like the F-47, which is currently under development.
In its press release, Kratos Defense stated that Northrop Grumman will equip the Valkyrie platform with an integrated mission systems package. This package includes sensor suites and software technologies specifically developed for unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition, Northrop Grumman will provide its open-architecture software framework, Prism, which supports autonomous flight control and mission execution.
In recent months, Kratos Defense has strengthened its position within the defense sector. According to Defense News, the company reported $988.7 million in defense-related revenue last year. At present, the manufacturer is planning a broader deployment of Valkyrie platforms across international markets.
Steve Fendley, President of Kratos’ Unmanned Systems division, stated that integrating the Valkyrie airframe with Northrop Grumman’s multi-mission systems enables the development of a capable CCA platform at a cost level that supports wider deployment of uncrewed systems alongside crewed aircraft.
According to Kratos, the Marine Corps–specific CCA variant of Valkyrie is expected to support a broad range of missions due to its modular aircraft design. Conventional takeoff and landing configurations provide greater flexibility in the selection of airfields and runways, a factor considered important for expeditionary operations.
Last year, U.S. Air Force pilots conducted joint flight operations with the Valkyrie drone as part of flight testing activities. According to Kratos, the platform has an operational range of approximately 5,550 km, a maximum speed of around 1,060 km/h, a service ceiling of about 13,700 meters, and a payload capacity of up to roughly 2,720 kg. These characteristics position Valkyrie as a technically capable autonomous platform for potential future air combat and support missions, subject to continued testing and operational evaluation.
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Source: Interestingengineering
