- The U.S. Air Force Research Lab announced the sixth flight of the XQ-58A Valkyrie drone.
- This new flight involved the Valkyrie launching its own drone, an ALTIUS-600.
- Not only can the Valkyrie keep up with fighter jets, but it can also launch missiles, bombs, and drones.
The U.S. Air Force’s ongoing testing of its new XQ-58A Valkyrie drone took an unexpected turn when it recently launched its own small reconnaissance drone, which can double as a kamikaze.
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The test shows the Pentagon is thinking creatively about how to use drones, not only as flying arsenals and sentries, but as drone launchers, too.
On its sixth flight, which took place on March 26 at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, the Valkyrie released an ALTIUS-600 small, unmanned aircraft system (SUAS) from its internal weapons bay. In addition to launching the baby drone, the Valkyrie also flew higher and faster than ever before, according to the Air Force Research Lab.
The ALTIUS-600 is just over 3 feet long, has a wingspan of over 8 feet, can fly up to to 276 miles per hour for up to 4 hours, and packs a 3- to 7-pound payload. The drone’s manufacturer, Area I, claims it can be used in the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roles; the counter-unmanned aerial vehicle role; electronic warfare; and signals and intelligence collection. The ALTIUS-600 can also function in the “kinetic” role, which means it would carry a high explosive warhead.
The XQ-58A Valkyrie is part of the Pentagon’s effort to build “loyal wingman” drones, or remotely crewed aerial vehicles that can fly alongside fighters, bombers, and support aircraft. A loyal wingman partnering with a fighter in a counter-air mission might carry air-to-air missiles. The same drone could also carry an electronic warfare jamming pod and anti-radar missiles to help protect planes flying high-risk strike missions.
The ALTIUS-600 test shot demonstrates another mission for the XQ-58A: launching smaller, even cheaper drones.
The Air Force could choose a Valkyrie to fly a dangerous reconnaissance mission against heavily defended airspace. The Valkyrie could launch ALTIUS-600s carrying surveillance equipment of their own, or even strike targets of opportunity with explosive-laden drones.
So while the XQ-58A is meant to be a loyal wingman, it’s rapidly starting to take on the roles and missions of a manned fighter jet—including little loyal wingmen of its own.
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Kyle Mizokami is a writer on defense and security issues and has been at Popular Mechanics since 2015. If it involves explosions or projectiles, he's generally in favor of it. Kyle’s articles have appeared at The Daily Beast, U.S. Naval Institute News, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, Combat Aircraft Monthly, VICE News, and others. He lives in San Francisco.
