U.S. Navy Buys 2 Drones Worth $15.5M

The Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie is an experimental stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicle designed and built for the US Air Force. [{ "selector": ".wbkag-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 437px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The Valkyrie successfully completed its first flight on 5 March 2019 at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. [{ "selector": ".lqnaw-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 437px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The Navy is buying 2 XQ-58 Valkyrie drones, high-performance drones that would accompany manned fighter jets in battle and fight alongside them. [{ "selector": ".ofpmw-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 437px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The service issued a $15.5 million contract to Kratos for the XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial system. [{ "selector": ".fdacq-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 437px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The XQ-58 has demonstrated being able to follow basic commands, autonomously determining the best flightpath and throttle settings. [{ "selector": ".oxlpg-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 437px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The Navy is currently developing its sixth-generation Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. [{ "selector": ".knidm-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 437px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

Navy officials have provided few details about NGAD’s development and have kept the R&D costs classified for the last 3 budget cycles. [{ "selector": ".tmzsa-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 437px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

Numerous countries are developing their own loyal wingmen or adapting existing combat drones to fit the mission. [{ "selector": ".wipds-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 437px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]