Kratos · Drones · 2019
Kratos's low-cost, stealthy 'attritable' unmanned combat aircraft, developed for the US Air Force Research Laboratory's Low-Cost Attritable Strike Demonstrator program and designed to fly as a loyal wingman to crewed fighters (F-35, F-22, F-15EX, F/A-18). A trapezoidal, chined fuselage with a V-tail and S-shaped intake gives it a low radar signature; it's ~9.1 m long with an 8.2 m wingspan and ~2,948 kg max launch weight, powered by a single Williams FJ33 turbofan for high-subsonic speed (cruise Mach 0.72, up to ~Mach 0.85) out beyond 5,500 km at up to 45,000 ft. It's fully runway-independent - rocket-assisted rail launch and parachute/airbag recovery, with trolley- and landing-gear variants - and can launch from ships, containers or trucks. It carries ~272 kg internally plus wing stations, has released a smaller ALTIUS-600 drone from its bay, and flies under Skyborg AI autonomy. First flew March 2019; unit cost ~$4-6M (target sub-$2M at scale), producible at 250-500/year. The USMC selected it (with Northrop) for its first CCA in 2026; an electronic-attack MQ-58B and an Airbus/Bundeswehr variant are in work.
Price on application
View full interactive profile, comparisons & videos → Check price on Amazon →| Category | Drones |
| Sub-type | Collaborative Combat Aircraft (stealth loyal wingman) |
| Status | Active |
| Year | 2019 |
| Origin | USA |
| Payload | 272 kg |
| Max range | ~5,560 km (3,000 nmi) km |
| AI model | Skyborg autonomy (AI) |
| Use cases | Scouting / escort, ISR, Electronic attack, Strike (loyal wingman) |
| Made in | USA |
