The US Marine Corps officially launches the Valkyrie program — new variants of the MQ-58 drone in development

The US Marine Corps has decided to make the Valkyrie drone program, known as the MQ-58, full-fledged and official. It used to be an experimental project, but now the Valkyrie is becoming the first mass-produced unmanned combat aircraft (CCA) to officially enter service with the Marine Corps.

Kratos is already preparing for a new stage of production of these drones to meet the needs of the Marines. In addition, cooperation with Airbus is planned, which may help with the development and production of new variants of the MQ-58.

So Valkyrie has great prospects ahead — it will turn into a full-fledged combat system that will perform various tasks tactically and strategically. These drones will give the Marines new capabilities for reconnaissance, support, and strikes, helping to make operations more efficient and safer.

Germany lifted the ban: Turkey is now allowed to buy Eurofighter Typhoon fighters

 

Eurofighter Typhoon

The long-awaited "good" has finally been received. Germany has officially lifted its veto on the sale of modern Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey, a move that has long blocked the deal. Now the way for supplies is open, and Ankara can begin negotiations on the purchase of up to 40 aircraft.

Turkey used to be completely isolated on this issue. Despite the fact that the Eurofighter is produced by a consortium of four countries — Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain — the sale to each new buyer requires the consent of all participants. And Berlin has been the "brake" in recent years: due to disagreements with Ankara on a number of issues, including military operations in Syria, purchases of Russian weapons (like the S-400) and domestic policy, the Germans did not give the green light.

Now the position has changed. Most likely, this is due to common interests within NATO: Turkey is a key player on the southern flank of the alliance, and its strengthening with modern Western fighters (instead of Russian or Chinese analogues) is beneficial to everyone. Plus, there is pressure from other partners, especially the UK and Italy, who have been waiting for a lucrative contract for a long time.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is one of Europe's most advanced combat aircraft: super—maneuverable, with powerful radar and the ability to carry a wide range of weapons. This is a chance for Turkey to upgrade its aging F-16 fleet and strengthen its air defenses, especially amid tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

So now that Germany has agreed, the deal can be finalized in the coming months. Turkey will receive a powerful strike resource, and Europe will be confident that one of its key allies remains on "our side" technologically.

XQ-58 Valkyrie goes to Europe — new system from Airbus makes it a profitable export offer

XQ-58 Valkyrie 

The American XQ-58 Valkyrie attack drone, known as the "combat partner" for manned fighter jets, has begun its journey to the European market. This became possible thanks to the cooperation of Kratos with the European aviation giant Airbus, which has developed a new control system for the drone.  

Now Valkyrie is not just a promising drone for the American army, but a full—fledged export product that will be offered not only to Germany, but also to other EU countries. Berlin has already shown interest in this machine, especially in light of the threats posed by the massive use of drones in modern conflicts.

 What is the XQ-58 Valkyrie?

This is a super-maneuverable attack drone created using stealth technology (barely noticeable to radars), which can work in conjunction with manned fighters, acting as a scout, target designator and even an ammunition carrier. It is also called an "aerial bodyguard" for fighter pilots.  

Now, with the new Airbus control system, it has become even more compatible with European standards and weapons systems — which makes it especially interesting for NATO countries like Germany, Poland, France and the United Kingdom.

In an environment where drones are increasingly becoming the main threat in the airspace, especially in conflicts involving swarms of UAVs and kamikaze drones, autonomous systems capable of responding quickly and supporting aviation are needed. This is exactly what Valkyrie is — a cheap, fast and at the same time dangerous opponent for any enemy drone or even a light fighter.

In addition, the XQ-58 can be used not only for attack, but also for reconnaissance purposes, as well as as a platform for testing new artificial intelligence technologies in combat conditions.

If the first deliveries and testing in Germany are successful, we can expect the expansion of contracts to other European countries. This could be an important step in modernizing the European Air Force and enhancing its capabilities in the face of growing threats from Russia and China.  

In general, Valkyrie is no longer just an American project — it is becoming an international player in the market of new-generation military drones.

Successful demonstration of electromagnetic warfare in Germany to evacuate civilians

 

A coalition of German defense companies successfully conducted the country's first aerial demonstration of electromagnetic warfare capabilities, simulating a malfunction of enemy air defense systems to ensure the safe evacuation of civilians.

A coordinated demonstration was held in Manching by Airbus, bKEC, HENSOLDT, IBM, MBDA, PLATH, Rohde & Schwarz and Schönhofer. It showed how manned and unmanned aircraft can use electromagnetic suppression to neutralize enemy radars and communication systems without using kinetic weapons.

The Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, equipped with electromagnetic surveillance and jamming equipment, served as a remote jamming platform. Acting from a safe distance, the PC-12 detected, classified and silenced the SA-8 air defense system, effectively depriving it of combat capabilities. After the threat was suppressed, the simulated Airbus A400M military transport aircraft was able to enter the zone undetected, land and evacuate civilians.

The French Air Force has declared the A400M fleet fully operational

 

A400M

On June 19, during the International air Show in Paris, the French Air Force officially announced the achievement of Full Operational Capability (FOC) status for its fleet of Airbus A400M Atlas tactical transport aircraft. This event became an important milestone in the history of the operation of this type of aircraft and was marked exactly 10 years after receiving the world's first production aircraft.

The A400M aircraft, developed by Airbus Defense and Space, was created to replace the outdated fleet of transport aircraft from NATO countries, including the French Transall C160. However, the path to full—fledged operation turned out to be long and difficult - the project faced supply delays, technical problems and budget overruns. The completion of all stages of modernization and integration of the machine's capabilities has become all the more valuable for France and other participating countries.

Now, with the FOC status, the A400M is capable of performing a full range of tasks, including:

- strategic and tactical transportation of goods and personnel;  

- refueling in the air (if appropriate equipment is available);  

- Evacuation of the wounded (MEDEVAC);  

- delivery to hard-to-reach airfields due to the high maneuverability of the landing gear and powerful TP400 turboprop engines.  

In addition, the aircraft can be equipped with electronic warfare systems, thermal missile protection and digital communications systems, which makes it suitable for operations even in high-threat conditions.

The French Air Force currently operates 28 A400M aircraft, making them one of the largest operators of this type in Europe. Their successful integration into combat personnel opens up the possibility for further development of the program, including participation in joint EU and NATO missions.

Receiving FOC status also symbolizes the rebirth of European military autonomy, as the A400M is one of the few transport platforms fully developed and manufactured inside Europe without relying on American industry.

Eurodrone: Airbus' new super-heavy attack drone for patrol and combat operations

 

Eurodrone

The superheavy Eurodrone shock was presented at an exhibition in Berlin.

In size and weight, it is seriously larger than the Su-25, and a number of layout solutions look unusual. The project differs sharply from the Russian S-70 Hunter heavy drone: this is probably due to the fact that European manufacturers, unlike domestic ones, do not plan to use the novelty in the enemy's air defense zone. . But the new combat drone will be involved in patrolling over urban areas of Germany.

At the ILA 2022 air show in Berlin, the European concern Airbus presented the general appearance of the projected Eurodrone heavy drone, and showed the weapons intended for use on it. Its role is played by Hellfire missiles and Paveway laser-guided bombs. This is a rather unusual decision, because the Eurodrone does not look like a low-visibility aircraft. Combined with its large size and weight (wingspan — 26 meters, length — 16 meters, weight — up to 11 tons), it should be expected that it will be vulnerable to air defense.

Hellfire missiles of the types deployed today have a range of no more than 11 kilometers, and Paveway bombs should be used from even shorter distances. It turns out that in order to defeat the Eurodrone enemy, it is necessary to approach it noticeably closer than the radius of destruction of the Thor (16 kilometers) or Pantsir-C1 (20 kilometers). The flight ceiling of the new machine is 13.7 kilometers, which is less than the altitude range of the Pantsir-S1 (16 kilometers), although slightly more than that of the Tor (12 kilometers).

Meanwhile, both of these complexes effectively hit even the much less radio-visible Bayraktar. It is not entirely clear exactly how Eurodrone will be able to hit its targets in such a situation.

A possible reason for the striking lack of modernity in the capabilities of the new drone is the date when its creation was conceived. Airbus signed a contract with European government agencies to create the device on February 24 this year, still being influenced by previous ideas about the tasks facing Western drone strikes. For wars like the Afghan or Iraqi wars, vulnerability to serious air defense was irrelevant, since the population of countries where Western armed forces were fighting had practically no such air defense.

But Eurodrone has a serious combat load of 2,300 kilograms. Theoretically, this allows over time to adapt not only the "short-armed" Hellfire, but also cruise missiles such as the Norwegian NSM with a range of up to 190 kilometers. In this case, even a device as large and radio-visible as the new drone will have a chance to be used in combat operations without immediate defeat by the enemy.

Airbus has developed an unmanned LOAD fighter jet to combat attack UAVs

 

 LOAD

Unmanned aerial vehicles for strike purposes pose an obvious threat that requires a response. Various means and methods of combating such UAVs are being developed and proposed, including the most interesting ones. For example, the European corporation Airbus recently presented the first materials on the project of the unmanned fighter aircraft LOAD. This UAV will have to intercept aerial targets and hit them with light air-to-air missiles.

One of the main innovations from Airbus was the layout of a promising interceptor drone called LOAD (Low-Cost Air Defense — "Low-cost air defense"). This product is designed to combat attack UAVs or other means of air attack and is in fact the answer to one of the main modern challenges.

It is reported that the new LOAD interceptor was developed based on an existing serial UAV. By replacing some components and introducing new systems, including weapons, the serial drone turned into a fighter. At the same time, the main flight performance characteristics remained at the same level.

In the near future, Airbus plans to conduct full-scale tests of the new drone to confirm its design characteristics. Both the entire interception complex and its individual components, including air-to-air missiles, will be tested.

After successful testing of the new sample, the development corporation plans to bring it to the market. The UAVs will be offered to potential customers who want to strengthen their air defense and provide protection not only from "traditional" aerial targets, but also from modern threats.

Airbus is already developing various options for the development of the LOAD project, aimed at improving basic parameters and expanding combat capabilities. In particular, it is proposed to increase the transported ammunition, which, in turn, should improve the combat qualities of the drone.

However, the timing of the full implementation of the project and full market entry remains unknown. Using a ready-made platform will reduce the development time of a new project, but other components may have a negative impact.

The LOAD interceptor was created on the basis of the Do-DT25 unmanned target, designed to train anti-aircraft crews. The Do-DT25 product was originally developed by EADS, but later passed on to Airbus Corporation. It has been mass-produced for a long time, and by now more than 2,500 such UAVs have been produced. It is noted that the target drone is one of the most widespread samples of Airbus products.

During the redesign of the unmanned target in the interceptor, some changes were made to the original airframe and control system. The remaining components and assemblies, apparently, corresponded to the goals of the new project and did not require modification or replacement. This approach to the design of a new drone has allowed us to preserve the overall appearance and some of the characteristics. At the same time, LOAD received fundamentally new features.

The LOAD UAV, like its predecessor, is built according to a normal aerodynamic scheme. It has a spindle-shaped fuselage, a mid-mounted wing with a slight sweep and a T-shaped tail. At the base of the tail is a gargrot with a built-in air intake.

The size of the interceptor has not yet been announced. However, it is known that the Do-DT25 target has a length of about 3.1 m and a wingspan of about 2.5 m. LOAD is unlikely to have fundamentally different dimensions.

The LOAD product retains the turbojet power plant of its predecessor. With its help, the device will be able to reach speeds of more than 550 km / h and stay in the air for at least an hour. The combat radius is determined by means of communication and is currently limited to 100 km. If necessary, the duration and range of the flight can be increased due to the outboard fuel tank.

It is not yet known which control system the new UAV will receive. The traditional combination of autopilot and remote control is likely to be used. Such a system will be able to perform some tasks independently, and in other cases, operator intervention will be required. In particular, it is the person who will give the command to use weapons.

The LOAD drone can be equipped with optoelectronic detection devices. Also, the possibility of using a lightweight small-sized radar cannot be excluded. In both cases, this will allow you to get an overview of the front hemisphere and ensure the search for aerial targets.

LOAD will hit aerial targets with guided missiles. The type of these products has not yet been specified. The combat characteristics that can be obtained with such weapons also remain unknown. So far, the promotional materials for the project depict only average hypothetical rockets, but not real samples.

Mock-ups of the interceptor drone were demonstrated with a pair of missiles under the wing. At the same time, the development organization claims that in the future, the UAV's ammunition supply may increase. Probably, a third suspension point will be organized under the fuselage and, possibly, additional points will appear under the wing.

The Do-DT25 target drone takes off from a rail catapult. The fit of this product is not normally provided for. Apparently, LOAD will also use a launch catapult, but it will receive some means for landing — a parachute or even a full-fledged landing gear.

As far as we know, the new LOAD project is still under development, and the final appearance of the unmanned interceptor has not yet been determined. However, the project is expected to be completed in the near future, and the finished sample will be shown at one of the next exhibitions. Time will tell whether he will be able to interest potential customers.

Airbus and Shield AI join forces for autonomous logistics: Hivemind integrates into MQ-72C

 

MQ-72C

The companies Airbus US Space & Defense and Shield AI have entered into a strategic agreement to integrate the Hivemind autonomous control software from Shield AI into the unmanned logistics connector MQ-72C, a modification of the UH-72 Lakota helicopter.  

The goal of the partnership is to increase the operational flexibility of the aircraft through the introduction of autonomous flight capabilities, which is especially important to support future logistics missions of the United States Marine Corps.  

The cooperation is carried out within the framework of the Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program, aimed at developing unmanned platforms capable of operating effectively in contested space and reducing risks for crews during cargo delivery in complex operational areas.  

As part of the project, the companies will test Hivemind software in combination with Helionix avionics, which will enable a number of advanced autonomous missions, including automated takeoff, navigation in dense airspace and landing without human intervention.  

This collaboration marks an important step towards the development of unmanned logistics for military needs and demonstrates the commitment of Airbus and Shield AI to create solutions that can be used not only in the United States, but also in other NATO countries.

Airbus unveils prototype NH90 Caïman Standard 2 multipurpose helicopter for the French Army

NH90 Caïman Standard 2

Airbus has unveiled a prototype of the NH90 Caïman Standard 2 multirole helicopter at the SOFINS 2025 International Special Operations Exhibition in Martigny-sur-Mer. The helicopter is designed for the French army and is part of Paris' efforts to integrate next-generation capabilities into units designed for evacuation, fire support and other rapid deployment tasks requiring low visibility.

Key Features of NH90 Caïman Standard 2

The NH90 Caïman Standard 2 is an improved version of the previous generation of Caïman Standard 1 helicopters. The new model includes components specifically designed for covert operations. Among them:

- Infrared camera with laser pointer and target designator (EOS410 from Safran);

- Improved radio communications for joint and coalition operations;

- New types of weapons.

The NH90 Caïman Standard 2 helicopter can be equipped with door-mounted machine guns, multi-functional rockets, rocket blocks and auxiliary cannons. It has a length of 20 meters, a rotor diameter of 16 meters and an external load capacity of 4,200 kilograms. The cabin can accommodate up to 20 soldiers or 10 stretchers for medical evacuation.

The NH90 Cayman Standard 2 is equipped with two turboshaft engines with up to 2,400 horsepower each. The helicopter has a maximum speed of 300 kilometers per hour, a flight range of 1,600 kilometers, and an operating altitude of 3,500 meters.

Airbus has signed a contract for the production of 18 NH90 Caïman Standard 2 helicopters for the 4th Special Forces Regiment of the French Army in Pai. Helicopter assembly has already begun at the Marignan facility, and deliveries are scheduled for the period from 2026 to 2029. After delivery, the new helicopters will replace the aging H215M Cougar and H225M Caracal models, also manufactured by Airbus.

The NH90 Cayman Standard 2 will play an important role in the operational capabilities of the French special forces, providing them with greater flexibility and effectiveness in difficult combat conditions.

UK to Develop £127 Million Military Satellite System, Creating 200 Jobs

 A new military satellite system worth 127 million pounds is being designed and built in the UK.Airbus said the contract with the Ministry of Defence could create about 200 skilled jobs at Stevenage in Hertfordshire and Portsmouth.The satellite system, called Oberon, is expected to be launched in 2027 and will be able to take pictures on earth both day and night.