Kratos to Supply XQ-58A Valkyrie Unmanned Aircraft to USAF under Skyborg Program

New contract includes three phases of design, integration and testing of the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie system, integrating multiple customer-defined mission payloads and customized autonomy By Joseph Macey / 16 Dec 2020

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Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has been awarded $37,771,577 from the AFLCMC/WA Advanced Aircraft Program Executive Office, for the Skyborg Delivery Order (DO) 2 contract, to integrate, test, and deliver XQ-58A Valkyrie aircraft.

“Kratos is excited to announce the receipt of the Skyborg DO 2 contract, meeting a long-term strategic objective. The Skyborg Program, one of three USAF Vanguard Programs, is focused on expanding the envelope of the application of unmanned aircraft use, particularly with respect to Artificial Intelligence.” said Steve Fendley, President of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division.

“Kratos XQ-58A has been flying since March of 2019, approximately 30 months after aircraft conception, and was designed specifically for these applications and the ability to support missions from ISR to Strike in manned-unmanned teaming scenarios or in unmanned only mission sets. These capabilities are intended to substantially increase the effectiveness of our country’s military mission sets, while at the same time reducing risk to the exquisite assets and manned elements—saving resources and, most importantly, lives.”

The contract includes three phases of design, integration, and flight testing of the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie system, integrating multiple customer-defined mission payloads and customer-defined autonomy in coordination/cooperation with the Skyborg System Design Agent company, Leidos.

Posted by Joseph Macey Connect & Contact

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