XQ-58 Valkyrie (bec95157-5cf2-50ed-8825-2cb3a88afc83)
The XQ‑58 Valkyrie is a low‑cost, attritable, stealthy unmanned tactical aircraft built by Kratos for the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps. Designed as an Autonomous Collaborative Platform, it can fly as a wing‑man to manned fighters such as the F‑35, F‑22, F‑15EX and F‑18, or operate in swarms of unmanned aircraft for independent missions. With a maximum speed of 0.85 Mach, a range exceeding 3,000 nm, and a service ceiling of 45,000 ft, the Valkyrie delivers up to 272 kg of payload through an internal bomb bay, mid‑wing hardpoints and wing‑tip stations. Its modular nose/payload section supports kinetic and non‑kinetic effectors, while runway‑independent launch options (trolley or booster) give it austere‑field flexibility. At roughly US $10 million per unit, the platform offers high‑performance strike, ISR and electronic‑support capabilities at a fraction of legacy fighter costs, enhancing survivability and lethality for joint and allied forces.