Kratos says its Valkyrie drones now cost roughly $6 to $8 million each

Kratos' Valkyrie uncrewed aircraft currently cost roughly $6 to $8 million each, depending on configuration and without certain mission systems installed, President and CEO Eric DeMarco said on a quarterly earnings call, TWZ reported.

The figure is above the price point Kratos has said it aimed for in the past, but still leaves Valkyrie among the cheaper options for Collaborative Combat Aircraft type drones, based on available information. DeMarco said affordability will be a central factor for prospective CCA customers.

The US Air Force has flown a handful of XQ-58As since the model's 2019 first flight, and the Marine Corps is acquiring a fully missionized CTOL version, sometimes called the MQ-58B, with Northrop Grumman as prime contractor. Kratos has at least two more Valkyrie contracts with unidentified customers, one outside the United States.

With Airbus, Kratos is pursuing a bid to supply the U740 version to the German Air Force; the U740 made its first flight at a test facility in northern Europe last month.