On Jan. 23, 2020, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and its partner Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. successfully completed the fourth flight test of the XQ-58A Valkyrie low-cost UAS demonstrator at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.

The Valkyrie demonstrator’s flight not only successfully met all of the test objectives during the flight test, but the envelope was also expanded beyond prior tests before the UAS landed safely in the Arizona desert.

Flying at a higher altitude allowed researchers to collect data in an “operational environment more representative of real-world flight conditions,” according to AFRL XQ-58A Program Manager Michael Wipperman. 

“Flying at this altitude helped us gather important data such as vehicle response to temperature and vibration, which will prepare us as we move toward our next flight test,” Wipperman says.

The January flight was a return-to-flight for the XQ-58A, as the UAS experienced a mishap upon landing after a successful 90-minute flight in Oct. 2019. The UAS went through a Safety Investigation Board probe, resulting in information that was “outbriefed” to the convening authority. The recommendations were taken and approved to make sure that this latest test was a success. 

“We’re very pleased with the outcome of this fourth flight test,” Wipperman says.

“We were able to show recovery for a successful flight at even higher altitudes. Given that we have overcome these challenges, we have confidence that the aircraft can continue its progression into flying in more representative conditions.”

The XQ-58A was developed as part of AFRL’s Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology portfolio. It is designed to be a runway-independent, reusable UAS capable of completing a wide range of operational missions.

Developed through low cost procurement, the UAS is designed to be significantly cheaper to operate in comparison to traditional piloted or unpiloted vehicles, while still being able to achieve the same critical missions. This is the first example of a class of UAS developed through this time-saving process, as it took just two and a half years from contract award to first flight.

Five flights are planned for the XQ-58A. Objectives include evaluating system functionality, aerodynamic performance, and launch and recovery systems. The fifth flight, which is scheduled for later this year, will be a capability demonstration showcasing the ability of the vehicle to support operational needs.