Northrop Grumman and Kratos have been selected by the United States Marine Corps to develop the XQ-58 Valkyrie as a collaborative combat aircraft for the MUX TACAIR program.
The drone will operate alongside manned fighters in high-complexity missions, expanding air superiority in environments with a strong presence of enemy defense systems.
The contract, signed through an Alternative Transaction Agreement, has an initial value of $231.5 million and a duration of 24 months. Northrop Grumman will be responsible for integrating an advanced mission kit, compact sensors, and open architecture autonomy software, adapted to the size, weight, and power constraints typical of unmanned platforms.
Among the technological highlights is the Prism autonomy system, which allows the integration of modules developed by partner companies. According to the companies, the combination of these solutions will result in a CCA (Collaborative Combat Aircraft) with enhanced survivability, connectivity, offensive power, ease of maintenance, and reduced cost for large-scale employment.
Tested since 2023 alongside the F-35, the XQ-58 Valkyrie has already demonstrated integration with Link-16, small drone deployment, and autonomous operations with artificial intelligence. The MUX TACAIR program will follow an evolutionary approach, with future versions potentially operating from ships, consolidating the Valkyrie as one of the main vectors of collaborative air combat for the USMC.
Source: The Aviationist | Photo: X @NGCNews | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
We’ve been selected to rapidly develop Marine Corps CCA with Kratos’ Valkyrie UAS. This new technology will enhance our military’s ability to respond to emerging threats. Learn more: https://t.co/jymNUgzhwr pic.twitter.com/2EzCVwtZ0n
— Northrop Grumman (@NGCNews) January 8, 2026
