Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
First Flight for the Low-Cost 'Loyal Wingman'
Working with AFRL, Kratos has flown a demonstrator of an expendable low-cost UCAV that can operate collaboratively with manned aircraft
The XQ-58A Valkyrie made its first flight on March 5 at Yuma in Arizona. (photo: Air Force Research Laboratory)
The XQ-58A Valkyrie made its first flight on March 5 at Yuma in Arizona. (photo: Air Force Research Laboratory)

On March 5 the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie undertook its first flight at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. The inaugural flight lasted for 76 minutes and was achieved around two and a half years after the XQ-58A development contract was awarded to the company in July 2016 (as the LCASD—Low Cost Attritable Strike UAS Demonstration). The flight-test campaign currently envisions five flights in two phases that will evaluate functionality and aerodynamic performance, as well as launch and recovery techniques.