US Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie Drone Successfully Completes Latest Test Flight.

On October 17, 2024, the U.S. Marine Corps announced that the XQ-58A Valkyrie successfully completed its latest test flight, marking its first multi-service integration during Emerald Flag 2024 at Eglin Air Force Base. This milestone event showcased the growing capabilities of unmanned tactical systems and their integration into joint military operations.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

A U.S. Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, a highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle, conducts its fourth test flight alongside a U.S Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II from VMFA-214 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 2024. (Picture source: U.S. Marine Corps)

Emerald Flag 2024, a multi-service, multi-domain test event, focuses on integrating advanced technologies and enhancing joint warfare efficiency. By incorporating cutting-edge technology and realistic combat training environments, the event spans across air, space, and cyberspace domains, with a particular emphasis on long-range kill chains, a critical element in modern warfare.

The XQ-58A Valkyrie is an experimental unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions for the U.S. Air Force. Designed as a low-cost, high-performance platform, it operates as a "loyal wingman," intended to work alongside manned fighter jets like the F-35 in combat scenarios. The Valkyrie is part of the U.S. military's broader effort to develop affordable, autonomous, and collaborative unmanned systems that enhance the effectiveness of manned aircraft while reducing risks to human pilots. It is capable of long-range missions, including reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and delivering payloads.

The XQ-58A Valkyrie is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed for long-range, semi-autonomous missions. It has a maximum speed of Mach 0.85, a range of over 2,000 nautical miles, and is capable of operating at altitudes up to 45,000 feet. The aircraft is 30 feet long with a wingspan of 27 feet, and it is powered by a single turbojet engine. The Valkyrie is designed for modularity, allowing it to carry a variety of payloads, including sensors, electronic warfare equipment, and precision-guided munitions.

One of its key technical features is its stealthy design, with low radar cross-section characteristics to enhance survivability in contested environments. The XQ-58A is equipped with a tactical data link that enables it to communicate and share real-time information with manned platforms, such as the F-35, as well as other unmanned systems. It is part of the U.S. military's "loyal wingman" concept, where it can fly in coordination with manned aircraft to perform tasks such as reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and strike operations, all while operating autonomously or semi-autonomously.

During the test, the XQ-58A Valkyrie operated as a forward-deployed sensing platform, providing essential threat targeting data to fifth-generation Marine Corps aircraft, such as the F-35B. The Valkyrie’s role in the exercise highlighted its ability to contribute to advanced kill chains by relaying actionable sensor data from airborne and surface platforms to a broad network of joint participants. The data transfer was facilitated through a common tactical data link, ensuring real-time situational awareness for ground and airborne units alike.

Col. Derek Brannon, Branch Head for the Cunningham Group, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, underscored the importance of this test flight in advancing the Marine Corps' unmanned tactical aircraft program. He remarked, “This XQ-58A test marked another milestone in the Marine Corps’ unmanned tactical aircraft program. The flight focused on the use of tactical data links to enable digital communication between the XQ-58A and an airborne four-ship of F-35Bs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 and other joint aircraft. The success of this flight test during Emerald Flag pushed the manned-unmanned teaming concept a step further for the entire Joint Force.”

The ability of the XQ-58A to effectively contribute to joint kill chains and enable manned-unmanned teaming represents a critical step in enhancing the effectiveness of modern combat operations. Its success during Emerald Flag suggests a promising future for integrating unmanned systems into complex battlefield environments.

The XQ-58A's test flight was the result of collaboration between various branches of the military and defense organizations. The U.S. Air Force’s 96th Test Wing and 96th Cyberspace Test Group, the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group, the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory all played key roles in facilitating the event. Additionally, support came from the Marine Corps’ Headquarters Aviation, Naval Air Systems Command’s Advanced Development Team, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division AIRWorks, and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

This collaboration also advanced ongoing research under the Marine Corps' Penetrating Affordable Autonomous Collaborative Killer – Portfolio (PAACK-P) program, a key initiative aimed at developing affordable, autonomous, and collaborative unmanned platforms to support future joint operations.

The Marine Corps, alongside other U.S. military branches, continues to invest in unmanned technology as a critical component of future combat strategies. The XQ-58A Valkyrie’s successful performance at Emerald Flag 2024 marks a key step in this ongoing transformation of warfare, where autonomous systems will collaborate seamlessly with manned aircraft to meet the challenges of modern conflict.