The US Navy has awarded a $15.5-million contract to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions for two XQ-58A Valkyrie drones.
According to the US Department of Defense, the drones will be equipped with advanced sensor and weapon system payloads to support various missions.
The company will provide system integration, testing, ground and flight operations, logistics, and maintenance.
It will also support future flight tests and demonstrations at government test ranges.
Work for the contract will be carried out in California and is expected to be completed in September 2023.
XQ-58A Valkyrie Drone
Kratos’ XQ-58A Valkyrie is a high-speed, long-range unmanned aerial system developed in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory.
A trapezoidal fuselage and V-shaped tail highlight its stealthy design, making the drone challenging to detect and track by enemy radar.
With a length of 30 feet (9 meters), the aircraft employs pre-programmed flight control systems to ensure improved maneuverability during military operations.
Additionally, the Valkyrie can carry two GBU-39 small-diameter bombs and other weapons.
The drone has a flight ceiling of 45,000 feet (13,716 meters) and a maximum speed of Mach 0.72 (889 kilometers/552 miles per hour).
“The Valkyrie is the right system, at the right price, at the right time, and we stand ready with active production lines and a family of low cost, high performance, jet drone systems to provide affordable mass to the US and its allies today,” Kratos president Eric DeMarco said last year.