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- Mar 3, 2021
Compared to the earlier examples, the Block 2 Valkyries are capable of flying longer-duration sorties at higher altitudes with heavier payloads. More changes are on the way, however, in the Block 2 B version. “It now looks like at least half of the Block 2s will be Block 2Bs incorporating a new additional capability based on very recent specific customer input,” DeMarco said, without providing more details of the changes involved.
What peeked my curiosity in this article was this.
Outside of the well-known Valkyrie program, Kratos is also working on more secretive drones including a “new yet-to-be-disclosed system that Kratos’ Ghost Works is focused on and that the competition and others know nothing about.” DeMarco said that this mysterious drone is already undergoing flight test at the company’s Burns Flat range facility, also in Oklahoma.
“Just this week Kratos had a very successful test event at the Burns Flat Test Range with the new system, which I am confident that neither our competition nor adversaries are aware of in any way,” DeMarco added.
It’s possible that the unnamed drone could even be in production already. DeMarco referred to three systems now being in production in Oklahoma, but he could only mention two of these: Valkyrie and Firejet. He went on to mention “another program we have that we don’t talk about, and I cannot talk about that is going into full-rate production now,” which could be a reference to the same vehicle.
www.thedrive.com
What peeked my curiosity in this article was this.
Outside of the well-known Valkyrie program, Kratos is also working on more secretive drones including a “new yet-to-be-disclosed system that Kratos’ Ghost Works is focused on and that the competition and others know nothing about.” DeMarco said that this mysterious drone is already undergoing flight test at the company’s Burns Flat range facility, also in Oklahoma.
“Just this week Kratos had a very successful test event at the Burns Flat Test Range with the new system, which I am confident that neither our competition nor adversaries are aware of in any way,” DeMarco added.
It’s possible that the unnamed drone could even be in production already. DeMarco referred to three systems now being in production in Oklahoma, but he could only mention two of these: Valkyrie and Firejet. He went on to mention “another program we have that we don’t talk about, and I cannot talk about that is going into full-rate production now,” which could be a reference to the same vehicle.
Marine XQ-58 Valkyries Will Be Electronic Warfare Platforms For F-35s
Kratos says its stealthy XQ-58A drones cost $6.5M each with dozens now under contract and two other secret aircraft programs underway.
www.thedrive.com