Russia is concerned about the upcoming launch of the stealth UAV XQ-58A Valkyrie, often known as the “S-400 killer.”
The XQ-58A Valkyrie stealth UAV, dubbed the “S-400 killer,”(Russian S-400 Triumf high-altitude strategic mobile air defence missile system). just completed another successful test flight with the assistance of Kratos Security and Defense Technology Solutions .The CEO of Kratos, Eric De Marco, stated that tests conducted at the Yuma Proving Ground military base in the U.S. state of Arizona “confirmed operational capabilities by flying longer, higher, with larger workloads and greater range ever.”
Mr. De Marco claims that the test flight utilised a backup system and an encrypted communication package. In the test scenario, the drone is moving toward the landing area despite losing communication. The ability to fly and even land without radio signals, according to observers, “would assist lessen the likelihood of being discovered by the adversary and monitor radio frequency emissions when the aircraft returns to base.”
The stealth UAV XQ-58A Valkyrie is anticipated to both exist and serve as the “flagship” for next-generation fighters; the first batch of 12 of these vehicles will go into mass production as soon as possible in early 2023. Recall that the US business Kratos Defense and Security Technology Solutions researched and created the advanced stealth drone known as the XQ-58A Valkyrie. The length of this covert UAV is only 9.14 metres, but it has a range of more than 4,800 kilometres. It is capable of transporting bombs and small-diameter missiles, totaling 272 kilogrammes of weaponry.
When working together in the air, the XQ-58A can be utilised as a shield for fighter aircraft, ready to take shots for the pilot. Additionally, the XQ-58A Valkyrie can sneak deeply into hostile territory without being seen, allowing it to launch precise surgical attacks. It is obvious that the XQ-58A Valkyrie is a considerably more advanced design than the ADM-160 MALD because it can serve as both a decoy and a stand-alone attack when necessary. The US has long been testing this cutting-edge stealth drone by flying it alongside fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.
The testing produced positive results, which led to the hypothesis that in order to fully appreciate the tactical and technical capabilities of this combat vehicle, the vehicle needed to be “fired” in front of a formidable foe. It is therefore not ruled out that some XQ-58A Valkyrie aircraft will be sent to Europe, notably Ukraine, to test their capacity to defeat Russian air defence systems. Many military specialists believe that the XQ-58A won’t actually engage in battle; instead, it will just fly outside the lines of the conflict to gather the essential data, after which Valkyie will undertake a variety of masking techniques to hide the real radar reflectivity area.
