Airbus Flies Valkyrie Combat Drone in Europe for the First Time | Aviation International News

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Ride of the Valkyrie: Airbus Combat Drone Flies in Europe

Airbus plans to team the U740 with Eurofighters by 2029

Drone mounted nose-up on ramp against forest background — The ramp-launched, nine-meter long U740 Valkyrie made its first flight on September 29 from an undisclosed northern European location. © Airbus Defense & Space

By Charlotte Bailey • News Reporter

October 13, 2026

Airbus has conducted its first test flight of the collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) it plans to team with Eurofighter jets by 2029, saying it is “on track” to deliver a combat-ready drone to “[address] the operational requirements of the German and other European armed forces.” However, while Airbus said the U740 Valkyrie prototype has met its initial objectives, it has not yet flown with its European mission system.

On October 12, Airbus confirmed that the U740 Valkyrie—developed from California-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’ XQ-58A, which first flew in the U.S. in 2019—made its first flight in Europe from an undisclosed northern European test facility. According to Airbus, the test met all objectives, including maneuvers at various altitudes, speeds up to Mach 0.8, and in-flight mission adjustments.

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