Kratos XQ-222 Valkyrie Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)

The Kratos XQ-222 is being developed as an economical, high-speed swarm-minded UAV platform for the USAF.

Detailing the development and operational history of the Kratos XQ-222 Valkyrie Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). Entry last updated on 5/21/2018. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com

When Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) finally matured as Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms over an active battlefield, thought turned to arming these systems - producing the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) subcategory. Now, with the maturity being experienced with UCAV designs, the concept of reusable / disposable "swarm" UAVs is beginning to take shape. Companies like Kratos have attempted to stay at the forefront of such an initiative, building upon their experiences in providing the United States military with high-performance unmanned aerial targets.

The XQ-222 is under development by the company by way of a USAF contract for an economical unmanned aerial system capable of light strike through precision-guided munitions while working in conjunction with manned attack aircraft. The benefits of such a product are many but chiefly centered on low-cost / low project risk and ease of serial production. There is also the added benefit of not risking personnel over contested airspace should the drone be lost. It is envisioned that a fleet of these attack drones, in some cases accompanied by manned aircraft, will swarm target areas with bombs, overwhelming enemy defenses and strategic positions prior to the arrival of the main fighting force.

Based on an artist concept of the XQ-222, the aircraft carries an angled fuselage tapered at both ends. An intake sits atop the spine to aspirate the presumed turbojet engine installation within (the engine will most likely be an outsourced off-the-shelf powerplant). At the belly is an internal bomb bay and underwing hardpoints will also figure in. The tail unit is blended into the fuselage and sports outward-canted vertical fins - no horizontal tailplanes are featured. The wing mainplanes are swept back and positioned near midships.

The system is being designed with a maximum range of 3,000 miles and a war load of up to 500 lb. Max speed will be subsonic. The aircraft will not require the facilities of a prepared runaway - take-off is to be accomplished by way of rocket-assist and recovery by parachute. Because of Kratos' experience in developing military-grade target drones, which mimic enemy aircraft actions and reactions, the XQ-222 should benefit immensely in terms of capability when avoiding air defenses.

The XQ-222 is being developed from the ground up (clean-sheet design). Presented specs include an overall length of 29 feet and a wingspan of 22 feet. Listed maximum speed is Mach 0.85. Minimum altitude is 50 feet and maximum altitude is 45,000 feet.

Beyond its strike capabilities, it is possible that the XQ-222 will also be able to engage aerial targets in direct air-to-air combat given Kratos' past experience with drones.

May 2017 - Kratos has officially named its XQ-222 vehicle the 'Valkyrie'.

Any available statistics for the Kratos XQ-222 Valkyrie Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) are showcased in the areas immediately below. Categories include basic specifications covering country-of-origin, operational status, manufacture(s) and total quantitative production. Other qualities showcased are related to structural values (namely dimensions), installed power and standard day performance figures, installed or proposed armament and mission equipment (if any), global users (from A-to-Z) and series model variants (if any).

Our Data Modules allow for quick visual reference when comparing a single entry against contemporary designs. Areas covered include general ratings, speed assessments, and relative ranges based on distances between major cities.

Image of collection of graph types

Relative Maximum Speed Rating

Hi: 750mph

Lo: 375mph

This entry's maximum listed speed (652mph).

Graph average of 562.5 miles-per-hour.

City-to-City Ranges

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Graph showcases the Kratos XQ-222's operational range (on internal fuel) when compared to distances between major cities.

Aviation Era

Useful in showcasing the era cross-over of particular aircraft/aerospace designs.

Unit Production Comparison

Comm. Market HI*: 44,000 units

Military Market HI**: 36,183 units

0

* Commercial Market High belongs to Cessna 172.

** Military Market High belongs to Ilyushin Il-2.

Altitude Visualization

Compare this entry against other aircraft using our Comparison Tool

Supported Mission Types:

Anti-Ship

Airborne Early Warning

VIP Travel

Origin: United States

Year: 2020

Type: Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)

Manufacturer(s): Kratos Unmanned Systems Division - USA

Production: 0

Status: In-Development

Global Operators:
United States (possible)

Historical Commitments / Honors:

Military lapel ribbon for Operation Allied Force

Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War

Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Britain

Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Midway

Military lapel ribbon for the Berlin Airlift

Military lapel ribbon for the Cuban Missile Crisis

Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War

Military lapel ribbon for the French-Indochina War

Military lapel ribbon for the Golden Age of Flight

Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War

Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars

Military lapel ribbon for the Iran-Iraq War

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon for the 1982 Lebanon War

Military lapel ribbon for the Malayan Emergency

Military lapel ribbon for the attack on Pearl Harbor

Military lapel ribbon for the Six Day War

Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War

Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for the Suez Crisis

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for Warsaw Pact of the Cold War-era

Military lapel ribbon for the WASP (WW2)

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur

* Ribbons not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns/operations.

Structural - Crew, Dimensions, and Weights:
Unless otherwise noted the presented statistics below pertain to the Kratos XQ-222 model. Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible.

Operational
CREW

Personnel
0

Dimension
LENGTH

Feet
28.87 ft

Meters
8.8 m

Dimension
WIDTH

Feet
1,991.47 ft

Meters
607 m

Installed Power - Standard Day Performance:
1 x Turbojet engine of unknown make, model, and thrust output.

Performance
SPEED

Miles-per-Hour
652 mph

Kilometers-per-Hour
1,050 kph

Knots
567 kts

Performance
RANGE

Miles
2,128 mi

Kilometers
3,425 km

Nautical Miles
1,849 nm

Performance
CEILING

Feet
44,997 ft

Meters
13,715 m

Miles
8.52 mi

Supported Weapon Systems:

Graphical image of an aircraft conventional drop bomb munition

Armament - Hardpoints (2):

Up to 550lb of external and internal precision drop stores. This includes single underwing hardpoints and an internal bay.

Variants: Series Model Variants
• XQ-222 - Base Series Designation