The US Marine Corps is officially joining the loyal wingman race, selecting Northrop Grumman and Kratos to develop its first Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
The drone will ride on the XQ-58 Valkyrie airframe, a stealthy platform with conventional takeoff and landing capabilities, modular payload bays, and multi-mission flexibility.
It will use Northrop’s Advanced Mission Kit with sensors and software-defined tech to enable kinetic and non-kinetic effects, making it fully combat-ready.
Prism open-architecture autonomy software will let the CCA manage its own operations, flying independently or teaming seamlessly with manned aircraft.
“Northrop Grumman remains at the forefront of advanced sensing capabilities, delivering innovative solutions that meet the needs of the warfighter with unmatched speed and reliability,” said Krys Moen, Vice President of Advanced Mission Capabilities at Northrop.
“This enhanced capability set ensures optimal performance for both crewed and uncrewed platforms.”
The loyal wingman will be built under the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) program, the service’s latest push to integrate collaborative combat drones across operations.
Inside the Base Platform
Powered by a turbofan engine generating roughly 2,000 pounds of thrust, the XQ-58 Valkyrie can carry up to 600 pounds (272 kilograms) of payload in its internal bay.
It can also reach Mach 0.86 (660 miles/1,062 kilometers per hour) and operate at altitudes up to 45,000 feet (13,716 meters).
The drone’s modular design supports wing-mounted weapons and mission kits, giving commanders a flexible strike tool in contested skies.
Its adaptable architecture allows launches from austere sites, improved airstrips, or fully runway-independent locations.
With AI-driven autonomy, Valkyrie can keep pilots out of harm’s way while extending the operational reach of armed forces.
The selection now places the US Marine Corps alongside the navy and air force as all three services advance their own CCA efforts.
