Airbus and Kratos Partner to Supply Combat Drones to German Air Force by 2029

Airbus and U.S.-based Kratos Defense have announced a strategic transatlantic partnership aimed at delivering collaborative combat drones to the German Air Force by 2029. The programme will be centred on Kratos’ XQ-58A Valkyrie, an unmanned aircraft system designed for high-risk and high-intensity missions. The drones will be equipped with mission systems developed by Airbus, marking a significant milestone in the integration of European command architectures with advanced American airframe platforms. The deal confirms Germany's intention to modernise its aerial combat capabilities through unmanned, cost-effective, and attritable systems.

The XQ-58A Valkyrie is a rail-launched, stealth-capable combat drone developed under the U.S. Air Force’s Low-Cost Attritable Strike Demonstrator (LCASD) programme. Designed to operate in contested airspaces and execute missions autonomously or in collaboration with crewed fighter aircraft, the platform represents a shift in doctrine toward networked air power. By integrating Airbus mission systems, the project enhances Germany’s ability to control and coordinate drones in multi-domain operations, potentially operating alongside Eurofighters or the future FCAS (Future Combat Air System) assets.

For Airbus, the collaboration with Kratos expands its influence within NATO’s evolving unmanned systems landscape. It also strengthens Airbus’ position in the growing market for collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), where European armed forces are increasingly prioritising drone integration as part of broader airpower strategies. The announcement comes amid Germany’s ongoing debate over defence industrial autonomy and its willingness to incorporate non-European platforms into national defence modernisation plans. The deal with Kratos suggests a pragmatic approach, favouring capability acquisition over industrial exclusivity.

From the U.S. perspective, the partnership aligns with Kratos' strategy to expand its presence in NATO markets. The agreement validates the dual-use adaptability of the Valkyrie, originally built for U.S. requirements but now reconfigurable for European operational doctrines. With rising demand for cost-efficient drones capable of supporting manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), Kratos gains access to one of Europe’s most strategic procurement landscapes. The integration of Airbus’ C2 and mission payload capabilities ensures compliance with European interoperability standards, particularly important for joint operations and digital battlefield cohesion.

The Airbus-Kratos programme reflects the broader shift in Western defence procurement toward flexible, scalable and distributed aerial capabilities. With deliveries expected by 2029, the German Air Force could become one of the first in Europe to field a combat drone that bridges current and next-generation doctrines. The partnership also signals a maturation of defence cooperation between EU and U.S. firms in a context of renewed military urgency. As drone warfare becomes a defining feature of modern conflict, this initiative positions Germany to remain operationally relevant in the contested skies of the next decade.

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Source: Reuters, Airbus partners with Kratos Defense to supply combat drones to Germany, 16 July 2025