XQ-58A Valkyrie with Attachments Named in the US
Flight tests of the XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial vehicle with various attachments, including those located in the internal weapons bay, are scheduled to take place in the first quarter of next year. Communication systems will also be tested during the tests. drone. Reports about it Flightglobal.
Currently, the drone developer Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has assembled three XQ-58A samples, one of which has been donated to the US Air Force Research Laboratory. This unit, belonging to the military, has already completed two flights, which were recognized as successful. By the end of this year, it is planned to fly the second flight model of the unmanned wingman, and at the beginning of next year to test it with various attachments. Other details of the test program for the newest drone are not provided.
The development of the XQ-58A Valkyrie guided unmanned vehicle is underway by the US Air Force Research Laboratory with the participation of Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems. The goal of the project is the creation of relatively cheap reusable vehicles in production that can serve as a fighter, but whose losses during the war will not be financially sensitive.
Initially, it was assumed that an unmanned fighter aircraft capable of breaking through the Russian echeloned defense of air defense / missile defense (zone A58 / AD) would be created as part of the XQ-2A project, but this concept was later abandoned. The program is now developing a driven unmanned vehicle capable of working "in conjunction" with the fifth-generation fighter F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, as well as, possibly, with other aircraft.
There are almost no technical details about the project. All that is known: the length of the 9,1 meter meter, wing span - 8,2 meter. Flight altitude - 13,7 thousand meters. Presumably, the device is designed for a range of about two thousand miles (over three thousand kilometers). The weight of the combat load located in the internal compartment and on the external sling is up to 272 kg. Flight speed - transonic.
Currently, the drone developer Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has assembled three XQ-58A samples, one of which has been donated to the US Air Force Research Laboratory. This unit, belonging to the military, has already completed two flights, which were recognized as successful. By the end of this year, it is planned to fly the second flight model of the unmanned wingman, and at the beginning of next year to test it with various attachments. Other details of the test program for the newest drone are not provided.
The development of the XQ-58A Valkyrie guided unmanned vehicle is underway by the US Air Force Research Laboratory with the participation of Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems. The goal of the project is the creation of relatively cheap reusable vehicles in production that can serve as a fighter, but whose losses during the war will not be financially sensitive.
Initially, it was assumed that an unmanned fighter aircraft capable of breaking through the Russian echeloned defense of air defense / missile defense (zone A58 / AD) would be created as part of the XQ-2A project, but this concept was later abandoned. The program is now developing a driven unmanned vehicle capable of working "in conjunction" with the fifth-generation fighter F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, as well as, possibly, with other aircraft.
There are almost no technical details about the project. All that is known: the length of the 9,1 meter meter, wing span - 8,2 meter. Flight altitude - 13,7 thousand meters. Presumably, the device is designed for a range of about two thousand miles (over three thousand kilometers). The weight of the combat load located in the internal compartment and on the external sling is up to 272 kg. Flight speed - transonic.
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