Kratos' XQ-58A Valkyrie completes first flight

Kratos' XQ-58A Valkyrie long-range, high subsonic unmanned aerial system completed its inaugural flight March 5, according to a Wright-Patterson Air Force Base news release.

Kratos was awarded the $40.8 million cost-share contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop a high-speed, long-range, low-cost UAS in 2016. The joint effort is part of AFRL's Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology portfolio, which seeks to reduce development time and cost.

The XQ-58A behaved according to expectation and completed 76 minutes of flight time at Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. It has a total of five planned test flights in two phases.

The Air Force's stated goals for the program include a 1,500 nautical mile mission radius with a 500-pound payload, Mach 0.9 speed and ability to carry and deliver at least two GBU-39 small diameter bombs.