Military drone launches its own drone
The XQ-58A Valkyrie deploys an ALTIUS-600 at the Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona on March 26, 2021. (Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.)
NEW YORK - The Air Force and a defense contractor say they have successfully tested launching a drone from a flying drone. It happened late last month in Arizona.
The Air Force Research Laboratory says the XQ-58A Valkyrie opened its internal weapons bay and launched an ALTIUS-600 drone in the skies above the Yuma Proving Ground.
Kratos has been developing the Valkyrie drone system for 2 1/2 years.
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Steve Fendley, President of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, said, "Successful operation of the internal weapons release system/function along with further aerodynamic envelope increases continues to assert the incredible capability and cost-per-performance value of the low-cost attritable XQ-58A Valkyrie."
The company says the test demonstrates the utility of affordable, high-performance drones.
"This is the sixth flight of the Valkyrie and the first time the payload bay doors have been opened in flight," said Alyson Turri, demonstration program manager. "In addition to this first SUAS separation demonstration, the XQ-58A flew higher and faster than previous flights."
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Previously, the company said it had successfully tested the Valkyrie flying in formation with piloted Air Force F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning fighter planes.