Nichols Martin
Kratos Defense and Security Solutions has secured a $17.8M contract modification from the U.S. Air Force to continue helping its research laboratory arm develop low-cost, attritable unmanned aircraft systems that are reusable with minimal maintenance.
Kratos said Monday it will support various efforts, including the company's own XQ-58A Valkyrie, to develop low-cost attritable aircraft technology.
The Air Force Research Laboratory demonstrated Valkyrie's performance as an autonomous attritable aircraft at Arizona-based Yuma Proving Ground earlier this month under the attritableONE program.
USAF seeks to implement the use of low-cost UAS for manned-unmanned aircraft teaming.
Steve Fendley, president of Kratos' unmanned systems division, said the company will continue to develop the utility and effectiveness of the attritable UAS technology.
Aside from Valkyrie, Kratos also has Mako, Gremlins and Air Wolf attritable drones.
