Airbus advances combat drone plans with first Valkyrie test flight in Europe

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Airbus Valkyrie drone test

Highlights

Airbus completed the first test flight in Europe of the U.S.-built Valkyrie drone on Sept. 29, supporting its 2029 delivery plan to the German Air Force.
The Valkyrie drone, based on Kratos' design with a range over 5,000 km and a unit cost of about 20 million euros, will be fitted with Airbus' MARS Mission System in 2027.
Germany's requirement is estimated at 500 collaborative combat aircraft, with greater clarity on operational use and platform configuration expected by the first half of 2027.

Test flight supports 2029 German delivery plan

As reported by Reuters, Airbus says it has completed the first test flight in Europe of the U.S.-built Valkyrie drone developed by Kratos Defense, although the aircraft does not yet carry Airbus' European mission system. The flight takes place over northern Europe on Sept. 29 and is intended to demonstrate that regulatory hurdles that have complicated earlier efforts to integrate military drones into European airspace can be overcome.

Airbus and Kratos announced in 2025 a partnership to supply the German Air Force by 2029 with combat drones that can fly autonomously, be remotely piloted, or operate alongside Eurofighter jets. The Valkyrie is based on Kratos' rail-launched collaborative combat aircraft design, with a range of more than 5,000 km, and is due to be fitted with Airbus' MARS Mission System.

Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn says the company plans to add the MARS Mission System for the next test flight in the first quarter of 2027. A first flight teaming the drone with a Eurofighter is scheduled later in 2027.

Defence market competition and German requirements

Airbus is competing in a growing market for uncrewed combat aircraft that also includes Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, Anduril Industries and Saab. The sector is targeting what could become a multibillion-dollar global defence market as air forces seek lower-cost platforms that can support or extend crewed fighter operations.

Schoellhorn puts the cost of each Valkyrie at about 20 million euros and estimates Germany's total requirement at around 500 collaborative combat aircraft. He says the German Air Force is still clarifying how the drones are meant to be used, including whether they will focus on air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, or electronic warfare.

According to Schoellhorn, greater clarity on what industry is expected to deliver could emerge in the first half of 2027. That definition is likely to shape the final configuration of the platform and the pace of Airbus' push toward operational deployment.

Jordan–Malaysia defence and technology cooperation around drones and counter-drone capabilities was the focus of our earlier coverage, as King Abdullah II urged closer collaboration in military technology and intelligence ties during his state visit. We also noted how Malaysia’s growing drone ecosystem—alongside initiatives to strengthen local chip and avionics capabilities—fits into the broader push toward higher-value, security-relevant unmanned applications.

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