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Kratos Defense and Security Solutions has unveiled the second version of the XQ-58A Valkyrie, featuring an internal landing gear for the first time for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) candidate.
“Being runway flexible/runway independent delivers maximum operational utility to the warfighter,” Kratos said in a social media post that included an artist’s rendering of the new configuration.
The message marks a turn from the original design concept for the XQ-58A. As the concept emerged several years ago, Kratos championed the runway independence of the original Valkyrie design, which needed a rocket-assisted takeoff and a parachute to land.
In the end, the U.S. Air Force decided to acquire runway-based and larger uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) for the first increment of its CCA operational prototypes. Kratos also lost a bid to offer a landing-gear equipped, larger UAS called Demigorgon for the XQ-67 Off-Board Sensing Station program, which ultimately was awarded to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
But the Marine Corps revived interest in the XQ-58A in 2023, awarding Kratos a contract to deliver two aircraft for the experimental Project Eagle. As the program moved into flight testing last year, Kratos revealed a trolley-based landing gear that allows the original version of the XQ-58A to take off from runways.
At the same time, Kratos CEO Eric DeMarco revealed that work had started on a second version of the XQ-58A, which adds an internal landing gear system at the expense of payload.
“With the Valkyrie, you’ll be able to do a rocket launch. You’ll be able to do a trolley launch, which still allows you maximum payload capability. Or you’ll be able to do a conventional takeoff and land with retractable gear,” Steve Fendley, president of Kratos’ uncrewed division, told Aviation Week recently. “You give up a proportion of your payload volume of your internal payload but you can still maintain all the external.”
The Marines plan to select a CCA design in the future for the proposed Marine Air Ground Task Force Unmanned Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX-TacAir) program. The MUX-TacAir fleet would augment the Lockheed Martin F-35B with uncrewed aircraft for a range of combat and surveillance duties.
Brian Everstine contributed to this article.
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