Airbus and Kratos to Deliver Uncrewed Combat Aircraft to Germany by 2029

This article is based on an official press release from Airbus.

In a significant development for European defense capabilities, Airbus Defence and Space has announced a joint initiative with U.S.-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to deliver an operational Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) system to the German Air Force by 2029. According to an official press release from Airbus dated March 13, 2026, the aerospace manufacturer is currently working at full throttle to prepare two Kratos Valkyrie drones for their maiden flight equipped with a sovereign European mission system.

The integration work is taking place at the Airbus facility in Manching, near Munich, Germany. By acquiring flight-proven airframes from Kratos and outfitting them with proprietary European software and avionics, Airbus aims to bypass the decades-long development cycles typically associated with clean-sheet combat aircraft designs. The modified drones are scheduled to take to the skies later this year.

This collaboration highlights a growing military procurement strategy focused on “affordable mass”, deploying large numbers of cost-effective, autonomous aircraft to overwhelm adversaries and protect highly advanced, expensive manned fighter jets. We at AirPro News are tracking this rapid shift in aerial warfare doctrine, which increasingly relies on uncrewed systems to project power in contested airspace.

The Path to a Sovereign European UCCA

Developing a new combat aircraft from scratch is a multi-billion-dollar process that can take decades. To meet the urgent geopolitical demands of the current era, Airbus has opted to purchase the existing Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie airframe and integrate it with a proprietary European “brain.” According to the Airbus press release, this approach ensures that critical command-and-control technology remains under European sovereignty while drastically accelerating the deployment timeline.

Integrating MARS and MindShare

Airbus is replacing the Valkyrie’s original American systems with its own Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system. The press release notes that MARS incorporates an artificial intelligence-supported software component known as MindShare. This AI acts as a virtual pilot, capable of flying the aircraft autonomously. Furthermore, Airbus states that MindShare is designed to coordinate complex operations across entire groups of manned and uncrewed platforms, effectively managing drone swarms in combat scenarios.

“By combining the Kratos Valkyrie with our MARS mission system, we are offering the German customer exactly what Germany and Europe urgently need in the current geopolitical situation: a proven flying uncrewed combat aircraft with a sovereign European mission system that does not have to be developed from scratch in a time-consuming and costly manner. Our objective is to deliver credible combat capability in time of relevance, while assuring key sovereign aspects. And we are confident that we can do this at a very affordable price, which is a key driver for UCCAs.”

The Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie Platform

The foundation of this new European UCCA is the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie, a high-performance, runway-independent tactical unmanned aerial vehicle. According to industry research data, the Valkyrie was designed for long-range flights at high-subsonic speeds and completed its initial maiden flight in the United States in 2019.

Technical Specifications

Based on verified industry research reports, the Valkyrie platform brings substantial physical capabilities to the Airbus partnership. The aircraft measures 9.1 meters (29.8 feet) in length with a wingspan of 8.2 meters (26.9 feet). It boasts a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of approximately 3 tons. In terms of performance, industry data indicates the drone has a range exceeding 5,000 kilometers and a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet. The platform is capable of carrying a mix of lethal weapons in its internal weapons bay and wing stations, allowing it to execute both kinetic strike missions and non-kinetic reconnaissance or electronic warfare operations.

“Along with the technical and production backing Airbus and Kratos bring, we are realising an optimal capability system that can be bought and deployed as ‘affordable mass’; the consistent discriminator identified in today’s peer to peer wargames.”

Manned-Unmanned Teaming with the Eurofighter

A core component of the UCCA initiative is Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), which allows human pilots in traditional fighter jets to command autonomous drones in real-time. For the German Air Force, this means integrating the modified Valkyries with the Eurofighter Typhoon fleet.

Rafael’s Targeting Pod Upgrades

To enable the Eurofighter to act as a “command aircraft,” Airbus is collaborating with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. According to the Airbus press release, the companies are enhancing the Litening 5 Advanced Targeting Pod, which is already contracted for the German Eurofighter fleet, with new cross-platform connectivity capabilities. Along with minor updates to the Eurofighter’s avionics, Airbus states these enhancements will significantly increase the aircraft’s lethality in combat, allowing human pilots to direct Valkyries into heavily defended airspace.

AirPro News analysis

The Airbus-Kratos partnership is a clear indicator of a massive global shift toward Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), often referred to as the “Loyal Wingman” concept. We observe that this initiative mirrors other major international defense programs, such as the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) wingmen, Australia’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat (developed with Boeing), and the UK/Italy/Japan Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

Furthermore, this deal highlights a growing trend in defense procurement: the commoditization of hardware. By purchasing an off-the-shelf American airframe and retrofitting it with European AI and secure communication networks, Airbus is demonstrating that the true strategic value in modern aerial warfare is shifting rapidly from the physical aircraft to the proprietary software that flies it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a UCCA?
UCCA stands for Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft. It refers to autonomous or semi-autonomous military drones designed to fly alongside and support manned fighter jets in combat, often referred to as “loyal wingmen.”

When will the Airbus-modified Valkyrie fly?
According to the Airbus press release, the first two modified Valkyries are scheduled for their maiden flight with the European MARS mission system later in 2026.

What is the MARS system?
MARS (Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure) is a sovereign European mission system developed by Airbus. It includes an AI software component called MindShare, which acts as a virtual pilot and coordinates drone swarms.

Sources:
Airbus Press Release