XQ-58 Valkyrie unmanned slave resumed in US

In the United States, the tests of the unmanned XQ-58A Valkyrie drone demonstrator, interrupted last fall after an emergency landing, resumed. As transmits "NPlus1" with reference to the message of the US Air Force Research Laboratory, the first flight after the break drone took place on January 23, 2020 and was completely successful.

According to the report, during a new test, the drone climbed to a great height, which they had not previously achieved. During the flight, information was collected on the vibration of the vehicle and the temperature of the on-board systems. The device made a successful landing at a training ground in Yuma (Arizona).

Recall that the latest tests of the XQ-58A Valkyrie were conducted on October 9, 2019. According to information published by the Pentagon, a drone that landed at the Yuma test site in Arizona suffered damage. This was facilitated by a strong crosswind and a malfunction of a number of UAV systems.

During the 90-minute flight, the XQ-58A completed all the tasks that were set to pass the 56 control points, as well as two additional ones, remaining at the end of the mission with excess fuel. Having successfully completed the main test program, the UAV headed for the landing point. The parachute worked normally, but the peculiar airbags designed to land the unmanned vehicle did not work correctly, causing damage.

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.

Comments

[rocket757]

It will not stop now, in principle. Everyone will do something similar and different.
Higher, faster, smarter, more dangerous.

[dauria]

It will not stop now, in principle.

For some reason I thought that it was the air defense breakthrough that was its purpose. According to the principle "whether you like it or not, it is necessary to shoot down this reptile, it is dangerous precisely because it carries bombs - missiles." This means exchange. If there are two missiles for one device, then it is equivalent. And the ammunition load is not endless, reloading is also time.
And here only 300 kg of load. Somehow frivolous for an aircraft of this size and engine. Offhand a ton should drag.

[rocket757]

Another experiment! BUT, who does not seek, he does not find anything.

[maidan.izrailovich]

Everyone will do something like that ...

Once the Americans have already made one "Valkyrie". https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_XB-70_Valkyrie
Then many did something like that... The then "Valkyrie" did not go further than two prototypes. Let's hope the current Valkyrie ends up the same way.

[rocket757]

Quote: maidan.izrailovich

Let's hope the current Valkyrie ends up the same way.

No, no, we then projected no worse "Valkyrie"! Just in case of fire!
This time or something similar or effective against the same.
But, as practice shows, building only against is not enough. SHIELD and SWORD in one set.

[Graz]

But why would a fighter break through the air defense zone, what would he do there with a combat load of 280 kg after the breakthrough is permissible?
something, or I'm dumb or skiing

[God save the king]

Why would a fighter break through an air defense zone

Really, why. Let's live in peace.

280 kg

For example, this is a pair of such babes or a radar jamming module. The "swarm" tactics implies the distribution of the payload on dozens of vehicles, it must be understood that they will not break through the air defense alone.

[g1washntwn]

Against ground-based complexes, simulators + charmas have not come up with anything cheaper. Impact platforms (drones / slaves) are in any case much more expensive for the same overload task. To gain superiority in the air, it will still work, but here subsonic speeds are still slowing down the efficiency, it’s not possible to quickly advance the followers in order to occupy the enemy (for now). And after the followers released their payload, the probability theory decides what hit / who remained / is there anything to finish off or quietly crawl back into the stealth it will be safer. In addition, slaves, if necessary, can go on a clinch and ram, which is again cheaper than exchanging for a manned IFI in close combat.
As I say, "the concept of murder with impunity" is an American fix.

[God save the king]

Harmas work only on a radio transmitter, in our time this is completely insufficient to suppress layered air defense, since missiles with passive radar guidance are easy to fool, but the emitter itself is not only the most valuable element in the composition of an air defense system, it is also easily masked.
Initially, it was assumed that the link of stealth drones autonomously at low altitude would be able to get close to long-range air defense systems at close range, do additional reconnaissance, release several dozen high-precision bombs, interfere and leave if you're lucky, you can not be afraid of losses.
However, the task of creating hardware and software for the complete autonomy of the UAV turned out to be more difficult than expected. So they fences a "bunch" with manned aircraft, so that the developments are not wasted.
No one knows for sure how effective all this is.

[andranick]

Roy on the long arm (of the lead). You want to dismiss him. In the meantime, you will brush aside, the leader will complete his task.

[knn54]

But they want to make a "station wagon" for aircraft (not only fighters) of the 4th generation.

[nduchvve]

The aircraft will be stealth, will withstand loads inaccessible to people, will do everything faster and more stable with a given accuracy.

P.S. On the same N + 1, an article appeared on the successful tests of the Israeli KAZ Iron Fist against sub-caliber shells for a 120mm tank gun.

https://nplus1.ru/news/2020/01/28/ironfist

[lvov_aleksey]

their Valkyrie, f22 and f 35 will be able to fly to us))))))))))))))))))))))))?
ps someone can not understand correctly, no one could beyond the Volga.
and from history - no one moved to the Second World War for the Volga.
And this is not a river, but the great Volga River. I was born and raised here !!!
ps I'm talking about the Air Force, do not climb enemies on our Volga!

[eklmn]

For the curious:
XQ-58 Valkyrie is part of the US Air Force Research Laboratory cheap attributable aviation technology (LCAAT), whose mission is to rapid design and creation of unmanned combat aircraft (UCAV) due to the development of more advanced design tools, as well as the improvement and use of commercial production processes to reduce construction time and cost. Since the beginning of the development and construction, it took 2,5 years. The role of the LCAAT is to accompany the F-22 or F-35 during combat missions, and be able to deploy weapons or surveillance systems.
The XQ-58 was designed to act as a “loyal slave” that is controlled by a host aircraft to perform tasks such as reconnaissance or attracting enemy fire during an attack.
It should also be able to be deployed as part of a swarm of drones, with or without a pilot.
It has stealth technology with a trapezoidal fuselage with a ribbed edge, a V-shaped shank and an S-shaped air intake. The first flight took place approximately 2,5 years after the conclusion of the contract. A total of five test flights are planned in two phases to evaluate system functionality, aerodynamic performance and launch and recovery systems.
General characteristics
Length: 28 ft 10 in (8.8 m)
Wingspan: 22 ft 0 in (6.7 m)
Performance
Max speed: 567 kn (652 mph, 1,050 km / h)
Max speed: Mach 0.85
Distance: 2,128 nmi (2,449 mi, 3,941 km)
Ceiling: 44,997 ft (13,715 m)