Airbus Flies Kratos-Based U740 Valkyrie Combat Drone in Europe for the First Time, Targets German Air Force by 2029

Airbus said its U740 Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft has completed its first flight in Europe, a step toward supplying the German Air Force with a combat drone by 2029. The aircraft is Airbus's version of the Valkyrie built by KTOS, and the two companies announced the milestone jointly on October 12 under a partnership struck in July 2025.

According to Reuters, the flight took place on September 29 at a test facility in northern Europe. The drone was launched with rocket assistance, reached Mach 0.8 and was tested at 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 feet, but flew without Airbus's MARS mission system. That system is due aboard in a further test in the first quarter of 2027, ahead of a first teaming flight with a Eurofighter later that year. Airbus defence chief Michael Schoellhorn called the flight "a major step in terms of the clearances required to make this project happen."

The commercial case is still ahead of the program. Reuters puts the price at about 20 million euros ($22.4 million) per unit and Germany's estimated need at around 500 uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft, but no order has been placed and the German Air Force is still defining the mission. Watch for a German procurement decision, the MARS-equipped flight test and interest from other European air forces.