• Drones
• Military Aviation

Northrop Grumman to Develop USMC CCA with Valkyrie UAS

Northrop Grumman was competitively awarded the U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). This award combines Northrop Grumman’s uncrewed capabilities and autonomous leadership with Kratos’ Valkyrie uncrewed aerial system to work alongside crewed fighters to provide air dominance in high-threat environments.

Northrop Grumman will develop and rapidly deliver platforms that include:

• Advanced Mission Kit: Northrop Grumman’s cost-effective mission kit is inclusive of sensors and software-defined technologies designed specifically for uncrewed aircraft. The mission kit’s flexible technology can perform various kinetic and non-kinetic effects, making the platform a combat-ready asset.
• Open Architecture Autonomy Software: Northrop Grumman’s open architecture autonomy software package – known as Prism – will manage the aircraft’s operations autonomously.
• Valkyrie Uncrewed Aerial System from Kratos Defense and Security Solutions: Fully equipped for a variety of missions that will include conventional takeoff and landing capabilities, enhanced runway flexibility with a modular airframe and payload bays for customizable effects.

High-capability Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Krys Moen, vice president, advanced mission capabilities, Northrop Grumman, said in a company news release: “Northrop Grumman remains at the forefront of advanced sensing capabilities, delivering innovative solutions that meet the needs of the warfighter with unmatched speed and reliability. This enhanced capability set ensures optimal performance for both crewed and uncrewed platforms.”

Steve Fendley, president Kratos Unmanned Systems Division: “The integration of the Kratos Valkyrie aircraft system configured with the world’s best multifunction mission systems from Northrop Grumman results in a high-capability CCA at a price point that enables the uncrewed systems to be deployed in mass with crewed aircraft.”

Northrop Grumman has packaged its sensors and other mission capabilities into a smaller envelope, resulting in a more cost-effective solution that is compatible with an uncrewed platform. Combining existing product lines and proven capabilities, Northrop Grumman, Kratos, and commercial partners developed a missionized CCA that includes survivability, connectivity, lethality and supportability elements.

With more than 20 successful flight demonstrations in operationally relevant environments, Northrop Grumman and Kratos are offering the U.S. Marine Corps a low risk, expedited path to MUX TACAIR mission capability and persistent joint crewed and uncrewed expeditionary operations.

Northrop Grumman builds capabilities that support the entire spectrum of uncrewed solutions including MUX TACAIR, Lumberjack, Project Talon and Beacon.

Kratos XQ-58

The Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie is a stealthy, combat UAS developed by Kratos. It can carry flexible mission kit configurations and a mix of lethal weapons from its internal bomb bay and wing stations, providing extreme flexibility. Flying since 2019, the XQ-58 Valkyrie is a high-performance, tactical UAS capable of long-range flights at high-subsonic speeds. The aircraft is in production at Kratos’ Oklahoma City manufacturing facility.

The XQ-58 Valkyrie is a collaborative-combat aircraft designed to help Joint and Allied Forces be more lethal and more survivable against near-peer adversaries. Using autonomy and artificial intelligence (AI), the Valkyrie can operate independently or seamlessly integrate into manned-unmanned teaming operations.

Since its 2019 debut, it has been at the forefront of tactical UAS technology and manned-unmanned collaboration.

Photo credit: U.S. Marine Corps