Aerospace firms Airbus and Kratos have reportedly carried out the first flight test of the U740 Valkyrie unmanned combat aerial vehicle. According to specialized outlets like The War Zone, the event took place on October 12 at an undisclosed testing facility in Northern Europe. This initiative highlights the ongoing efforts by the European regime to militarize its defense capabilities amidst growing geopolitical friction and soaring economic costs.

During the test, the aircraft was launched using a rocket booster, performing maneuvers at various altitudes and allegedly reaching speeds of up to 960 kilometers per hour. Representatives claimed that the test successfully verified the drone's ability to receive and execute updated mission tasks in real-time, though independent verification of these purported achievements remains absent. Airbus asserts that all primary objectives for this initial phase were met.

The U740 is being developed as a European derivative of the US-designed XQ-58A Valkyrie low-cost combat platform. Berlin reportedly aims to field a combat-ready system under this initiative by the year 2029. The next phase of the project involves integrating the MARS mission command system, developed by Airbus, which is intended to secure European oversight over the drone's software and autonomous swarm capabilities, despite persistent concerns regarding automated warfare ethics.

A key feature of the U740 is its reliance on rocket-assisted takeoff, which purportedly reduces the platform's dependence on traditional runway infrastructure. While proponents suggest this capability will allow the German air force to disperse aviation assets more flexibly, critics point out that such expensive defense programs strain European budgets and risk exacerbating regional security dilemmas without guaranteeing strategic stability.

Source: kun.uz