American company Kratos announced current production capabilities of its XQ-58 Valkyrie unmanned fighter, which can carry full weaponry for air combat and precision ground strikes.
As Kratos head Eric DeMarco reported during presentation of company results for first half of 2026, company will reach pace of 18 Valkyrie units annually. Subsequently pace of up to 35-40 units annually is planned to be achieved.
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Exact figure will depend on Valkyrie configuration. In case necessary to produce drones with conventional takeoff and landing capability — there will be fewer. If drones without landing gear are ordered — more.
"We plan to scale production volumes in 2027, and by 2028 we will be able to satisfy our clients from U.S. You know who they are. I hope we can also engage Taiwan. Also we have two more international clients, with whom we hope we can agree through State Department, and announce them very soon," Eric DeMarco added.
Note that under U.S. client, evidently U.S. Marine Corps is implied, which ordered XQ-58 Valkyrie through Northrop Grumman. Fact is specifically Northrop Grumman is responsible for onboard radio-electronic equipment and Prism software for autonomous drone control and its interaction with other aircraft. And because of this specifically it, not platform manufacturer, was chosen main contractor.
Regarding two more unnamed potential clients, one of them is already objectively known — this is Germany, as Airbus already works on adapting XQ-58 Valkyrie for Bundeswehr requirement, which seeks unmanned fighters. At same time, Airbus's main task is integration of European MARS (Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure System) control system and implementation of Valkyrie control from Eurofighter Typhoon fighters.
At same time, determining another potential XQ-58 Valkyrie customer is difficult. But considering Airbus active work, possibly another European country is interested in such proposal.
Also worth adding XQ-58 Valkyrie overall looks quite interesting proposal. This unmanned fighter can carry air-to-air missiles, including AIM-120 AMRAAM, precision weaponry for ground target strikes like GBU-39/B SDB. And also open to integration with various fighters for loyal wingman interaction.
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