Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Kratos Defense and Security Solutions completed the successful flight of the XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial vehicle they produced for the Block 2 Valkyrie development program. In a test flight, the drone proved its advanced capabilities by flying longer at higher altitudes and with a heavier overall weight than ever before. Another Block 2 Valkyrie aircraft, made as part of the 12 batch assembly launched by the company, was used in the tests.

During the test flight, the group demonstrated encrypted communication with backup radio packets for long-range and operational missions away from government training grounds. The UAV headed to the landing site under simulated loss of communication conditions.

The aircraft successfully landed in the target area and demonstrated significant autonomous capabilities during the end-of-flight phase and recovery of the aircraft without radio communications.

Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie is an inconspicuous combat drone. The 30-foot-long (9.1 meters) drone has a wingspan of 27 feet (8 meters), a maximum takeoff weight of 6,000 pounds (2,721 kg), and can fly to an altitude of 45,000 feet above sea level. The aircraft can fly at Mach 0.72 (889 km/h) and has a maximum flight range of approximately 3,000 nautical miles (5,556 km). Source