Marine Corps XQ-58A UAV Completes Test Flight

The test flight of the autonomous, low-cost tactical UAV marks a milestone for the service's aviation modernization strategy.

Kimberly Johnson

Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 11:49 AM ET

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A U.S. Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, a highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle, soars during its second test flight at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Marine Corps successfully completed the second test flight of its Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie combat uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) on February 23.
This autonomous, low-cost tactical UAV is a key component of the Marine Corps' aviation modernization strategy, serving as a testbed for developing technologies like autonomous flight and unmanned teaming with crewed aircraft.
The XQ-58A's ongoing test series will evaluate its capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, autonomous electronic support, and AI-enabled combat air patrol augmentation, with the potential to operate as a wingman or in swarms.

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The U.S. Marine Corps has successfully completed the second test of its Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie combat uncrewed air vehicle (UAV), marking a milestone for the service’s aviation modernization strategy.

The test flight of the autonomous, low-cost tactical UAV took place February 23 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where it was supported by 40th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) engineers.