Stealth unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) XQ-58A Valkyrie ("the Valkyrie)" Research laboratory air force (USAF), United States, which is declared as a potential slave, the fifth generation fighter F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, first released from the inner compartment of your wingman drone ALTIUS-600, reports The Drive.
According to the publication, these flight tests were the sixth for the XQ-58A Valkyrie. The Drive notes that the UAV that took part in them has the number 15-8003. According to the publication, the ALTIUS-600 can, in particular, receive video surveillance and radio intelligence systems, as well as small bombs.
The publication recalls that the inexpensive unobtrusive XQ-58A Valkyrie was created by Kratos as part of the Low-Cost Attractive Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) program of the US Air Force Research Laboratory, which involves integration with the Skyborg ("Skyborg") and Golden Horde ("Golden Horde") projects.
According to The Drive, in addition to the ALTIUS-600, the lead UAV can carry, in particular, AGM-176 Griffin missiles, as well as GBU-44/B Viper Strike and GBU-69/B Small Glide Munition (SGM) bombs.
In June 2020, the publication wrote that a distinctive feature of the drones created as part of the Skyborg projects is their low cost and the ability to take part in massive attacks on enemy targets that provide support for missile defense (ABM) as part of a swarm.
In October 2019, during the third test flight, the XQ-58A Valkyrie demonstrator, which is supposed to be the wingmate of the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter, was damaged.
In March of the same year, the XQ-58A Valkyrie demonstrator made its first flight in the sky over the Yuma Military test site (Arizona) [...] .
Ivan Potapov
