Airbus U740 Valkyrie Completes First Flight in Europe: 2029 Target Set
Airbus and Kratos have completed the first European flight of the U740 Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft, targeting a combat-ready capability by 2029.
By The Aviation Hub
5 min read
Updated October 12, 2026 
The Airbus U740 Valkyrie has completed its first flight in Europe, AeroTime reports, with Airbus announcing the milestone on 12 October 2026 as the partnership with Kratos Defence and Security Solutions targets a combat-ready aircraft by 2029.
Aviation A2Z reports that, according to Reuters, the flight itself took place on 29 September 2026 at an undisclosed test facility in Northern Europe. Airbus did not publicly name the location.
What the Test Flight Involved
The flight met all of its stated test objectives. According to AeroTime, these included a runway-independent, rocket-assisted takeoff, manoeuvres at various altitudes, speeds of up to Mach 0.8, and in-flight mission changes.
Mach 0.8 equates to approximately 988 kilometres per hour under standard atmospheric conditions, Aviation A2Z notes. The aircraft did not carry Airbus's European MARS mission system during this first flight. The test was designed to establish a foundation for more complex flights involving that system.
The MARS Mission System: Europe's Brain
MARS stands for Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure. Airbus describes it as the aircraft's "European brain," giving German and other European operators control over mission software, applications, operational data and hardware.
The system uses AI-enhanced software to carry out missions autonomously and to coordinate groups of crewed and uncrewed aircraft. A defined control hierarchy keeps a human "on the loop" for critical decisions, ensuring compliance with rules of engagement and applicable legal standards.
Aviation A2Z reports that, citing Reuters, Airbus expects the next test flight with MARS onboard in the first quarter of 2027. A first flight in coordination with a Eurofighter Typhoon is scheduled for later in 2027.
What the Airbus U740 Valkyrie Can Do
The U740 is a relatively compact uncrewed combat aircraft with a substantial stated range. According to Airbus, it has a maximum takeoff weight of approximately three metric tons (around 6,600 pounds), a range of more than 5,000 kilometres (about 3,100 miles), and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet (approximately 13,700 metres).
The aircraft carries an internal weapons bay and supports external payload stations for different mission configurations. Runway-based takeoff and landing are offered as an alternative to the rocket-assisted rail launch demonstrated in the European test.
Airbus announced in March 2026 that it was preparing two Valkyries acquired from Kratos for flight testing in Manching, near Munich. It introduced the U740 designation in June 2026, ahead of the ILA Berlin air show.
Why Affordable Combat Mass Matters
"In an increasingly complex and contested threat environment, air forces require affordable combat mass," said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, as quoted by AeroTime. He added that the Valkyrie would extend the range, firepower and survivability of crewed fighters such as the Eurofighter Typhoon.
The approach allows military planners to field additional assets without placing a pilot aboard every aircraft on a mission. For high-risk tasks in particular, an uncrewed platform reduces direct risk to personnel while expanding the number of available assets.
The programme also addresses a regulatory challenge specific to Europe. Aviation A2Z notes that Europe's complex aviation rules have created difficulties for earlier military drone programmes, making the successful flight a notable regulatory as well as technical milestone.
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The Competition for Germany's Combat Drone Programme
The Airbus U740 Valkyrie is not without rivals for Germany's accelerated uncrewed combat aircraft requirement. AeroTime reports that Rheinmetall and Boeing Australia announced a competing proposal based on the MQ-28 Ghost Bat on 31 March 2026, also citing a 2029 target for the Bundeswehr.
General Atomics stated on 17 July 2025 that its affiliate near Munich would support a European collaborative combat aircraft derived from the YFQ-42A. Helsing said in September 2025 that it expected its CA-1 Europa, a three-to-five-tonne autonomous combat aircraft, to be operational within four years. Neither Airbus nor Kratos has announced a contract from any customer.
Kratos President and CEO Eric DeMarco pointed to "CCA opportunities in Germany and other parts of the world," according to AeroTime.
Background: The Valkyrie Airframe
The original XQ-58A Valkyrie was developed with the US Air Force Research Laboratory and first flew on 5 March 2019. AeroTime reports that Northrop Grumman was selected in January 2026 to develop a US Marine Corps collaborative combat aircraft around the Valkyrie airframe, and that a Marine operator controlled one during an F-35 electronic warfare mission in April 2026.
The Airbus and Kratos partnership was formed in July 2025. It combines Kratos's experience in developing and manufacturing uncrewed aircraft with Airbus's expertise in military aviation, mission systems and European defence integration.
The Bottom Line
The first European flight of the Airbus U740 Valkyrie is a meaningful step forward for a programme operating on a tight timeline. With the MARS mission system flight now targeted for the first quarter of 2027 and a Eurofighter coordination exercise planned later that year, Airbus and Kratos have a packed test schedule ahead before any 2029 delivery.
Germany's combat drone competition is moving quickly, and this flight gives the Airbus and Kratos team a demonstrable lead in European testing. Whether it translates into a contract remains to be determined by military requirements and procurement decisions.
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