The Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie Is A Real Killer
The “game of drones” is upon us. Multiple defense contractors and militaries from around the world are racing to develop swarms of increasingly sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These drones are becoming so advanced and numerous that many experts are speculating that the age of manned combat aircraft—and indeed, manned combat systems more generally—is over.
One system to keep an eye on in the coming years is the XQ-58A, developed by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in collaboration with the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). This new drone has been developed under the Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) Initiative. In this case, “attritable” means that the aircraft is affordable enough to be easily replaced if lost—yet can still conduct high-profile missions because of its level of technical sophistication.