US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

• The XQ-58A is capable of being launched and recovered without a runway;
• It is stealth configured (but not coated);
• Has a range of 3,000nm and a cruising speed of Mach 0.72;
• It can carry 270kg (600lb) of ordnance internally – either two small-diameter bombs or two air to-air missiles;
• It cost between $2 to $3 million each depending on quantities ordered

Brumby said:

Several unmanned systems were featured in the latest Flight International magazine. One of the more interesting writeup in my opinion is pertaining to the XQ-58A Valkyrie. It has the potential to significantly alter the strategic landscape in the Western Pacific by undermining the entire concept behind the A2AD threat bubble. It is significant because it is not runway dependent; offers deep penetration strike capability; and changes entirely the cost exchange equation.



XQ-58A Valkyrie is part of the AFRL’s Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology program. Some details that are known include :

• The XQ-58A is capable of being launched and recovered without a runway;
• It is stealth configured (but not coated);
• Has a range of 3,000nm and a cruising speed of Mach 0.72;
• It can carry 270kg (600lb) of ordnance internally – either two small-diameter bombs or two air to-air missiles;
• It cost between $2 to $3 million each depending on quantities ordered

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Brumby said:

Your whole argument is premised on a think thank paper about a range of conceptual USN air wing construct. Such constitution bears no relationship to any USN program of record that would possibly achieve such a state by 2040. On top of that you then infer that PLAN can equally get to that state by 2040 because it has the money to spend.The only conclusion I can draw is that your propensity to imagine and to extrapolate is very healthy.

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Brumby said:

Several unmanned systems were featured in the latest Flight International magazine. One of the more interesting writeup in my opinion is pertaining to the XQ-58A Valkyrie. It has the potential to significantly alter the strategic landscape in the Western Pacific by undermining the entire concept behind the A2AD threat bubble. It is significant because it is not runway dependent; offers deep penetration strike capability; and changes entirely the cost exchange equation.


XQ-58A Valkyrie is part of the AFRL’s Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology program. Some details that are known include :

• The XQ-58A is capable of being launched and recovered without a runway;
• It is stealth configured (but not coated);
• Has a range of 3,000nm and a cruising speed of Mach 0.72;
• It can carry 270kg (600lb) of ordnance internally – either two small-diameter bombs or two air to-air missiles;
• It cost between $2 to $3 million each depending on quantities ordered

Click to expand...

If the future is in simple, low-cost unmanned combat drones like this, that suits the Chinese military just fine for the following reasons.

1. This does count as a *revolution* in airborne operations, and makes existing investments in manned aircraft a lot less worthwhile.
For example, if each manned fighter controls 10+ drones in the future, and it is drones doing the fighting, you don't need 2000 manned fighter jets like the F-35.

2. From a manufacturing perspective, producing large numbers of *low-cost* *good-enough* drones plays to the strengths of Chinese industry.

3. If we have large numbers of airborne drones fighting, it becomes a war of attrition.
And from a budget perspective, the Chinese military should be able to outbuild their competitors, given a larger military budget circa 2030-2035.

4. Geographically, fighter-sized jets struggle to project air power past 800km.

But large numbers of reusable unmanned drones with a combat radius of up to 2000km would allow the Chinese Air Force to project a lot more airpower over Japan (which is a maximum of 1300km from Chinese territory).

China has a lot more in the way of safe rear-area airbases and overall land area to work with, than the 1st Island Chain has available.

It's also easier to project drone airpower to Guam and the Marianas islands.

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Jura said:

it's actually interesting

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Brumby said:

Several unmanned systems were featured in the latest Flight International magazine. One of the more interesting writeup in my opinion is pertaining to the XQ-58A Valkyrie. It has the potential to significantly alter the strategic landscape in the Western Pacific by undermining the entire concept behind the A2AD threat bubble. It is significant because it is not runway dependent; offers deep penetration strike capability; and changes entirely the cost exchange equation.

View attachment 57977

XQ-58A Valkyrie is part of the AFRL’s Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology program. Some details that are known include :

• The XQ-58A is capable of being launched and recovered without a runway;
• It is stealth configured (but not coated);
• Has a range of 3,000nm and a cruising speed of Mach 0.72;
• It can carry 270kg (600lb) of ordnance internally – either two small-diameter bombs or two air to-air missiles;
• It cost between $2 to $3 million each depending on quantities ordered

Click to expand...

Jura said:

interestingly, "The Air Force set a target of under $3 million per unit." ...:
Skunk Works Sees Big Opportunity For ‘Attritable’ UAVs

Aug 31, 2017

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AndrewS said:

Yes. The US Military wants to keep the best 5G spectrum, whereas the rest of world is using this for commercial purposes.

So in the future, we can look forward to the US companies being severely disadvantaged, when compared to their hi-tech competitors in Europe and Asia.

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Jura said:

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tragicomic to talk "more breathing room for deterrence missions against Russia, especially in the Black Sea" while Russia could freeze out like half of Europe by turning off gas and oil taps

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