Airbus and Kratos fly U740 Valkyrie in Europe using rocket‑assisted launch

The U740 Valkyrie performed its first European flight on 12 October, launching from a rail with rocket assistance and without a conventional runway, according to Airbus and Kratos.

During the test the aircraft reached speeds of up to Mach 0.8 and mission‑adjustment procedures were exercised; the MARS mission system was not carried, with integration planned for a later test flight scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, and Airbus aims to deliver an operational collaborative air‑combat capability to the Luftwaffe by 2029.