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The US military has completed the latest round of testing on the XQ-58A Valkyrie autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle.
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The Marine Corps’ aircraft was evaluated during its latest test flight and first multi-service integration effort during Emerald Flag 2024 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida in October.
The XQ-58A, designed and built by Kratos, is expected to act as a forward deployed sensing platform, providing critical threat targeting data to Marine Corps fifth-generation aircraft to rapidly close advanced kill chains.
"This XQ-58A test marked another milestone in the Marine Corps’ unmanned tactical aircraft program," according to Col. Derek Brannon, Branch Head for the Cunningham Group, Deputy Commandant for Aviation.
"The flight focused on the use of tactical data links to enable digital communication between the XQ-58A and an airborne four-ship of F-35Bs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 and other joint aircraft.
"The success of this flight test during Emerald Flag pushed the manned-unmanned teaming concept a step further for the entire Joint Force."
The multiservice and multi-domain test event, Emerald Flag 2024, provides the opportunity to incorporate new and developing technology while focusing on the efficiency of joint warfare. The effort includes integrating advanced
long-range kill chains – enabling programs through a range of realistic combat training environments on air, space, and cyber space platforms.
“This test flight marked the capstone event for the PAACK-P Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve project and proved the tactical utility of uncrewed offboard sensing platforms,” said Lt. Col. Bradley Buick, future capabilities officer for Cunningham Group.
Through this successful joint integration, the XQ-58A continues to provide the Marine Corps with a testable platform for integrating new technologies and concepts in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Unmanned Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft program.
This joint collaboration was supported by the US Air Force’s 96th Test Wing; the US Air Force’s 96th Cyberspace Test Group; the US Air Force’s 53rd Test and Evaluation Group; the Office of Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory; Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation; Naval Air Systems Command’s Advanced Development Team; Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division AIRWorks; and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
The team facilitates ongoing research, development, test, and evaluation throughout the Marine Corps' Penetrating Affordable Autonomous Collaborative Killer – Portfolio (PAACK-P) program.
