WASHINGTON – The Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie drone launched an even smaller unmanned aircraft from inside its internal weapons bay during a flight test on March 26, the U.S. Air Force announced. Defense News reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
21 April 2021 -- During the Valkyrie’s sixth flight test at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) opened its payload bay doors during flight for the first time and released an ALTIUS-600 small, tube-launched UAV made by Area-I Inc. in Marietta, Ga.
The Valkyrie is an “attritable” UAV, the word the military uses for an asset that can be reused but is cheap enough that a commander would expect and be comfortable with a certain amount of losses while in combat.
The Air Force is experimenting with using the Valkyrie unmanned aircraft as a communications node for the F-35 and F-22 fighter jets, as well as assessing it as a potential Skyborg system that would be equipped with artificial intelligence and be able to fly autonomously alongside tactical aircraft.
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
