Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) has been selected for a competitive contract by the U.S. Marine Corps under the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, according to an announcement from its partner Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS).
The award brings together Northrop Grumman’s uncrewed mission capabilities with Kratos’ Valkyrie uncrewed aerial system, designed to operate alongside crewed fighter aircraft in contested, high-threat environments. The proposed solution integrates Northrop Grumman’s mission kit—featuring advanced sensors, software-defined technologies and its open-architecture autonomy software known as Prism—with Kratos’ Valkyrie platform, which offers conventional takeoff and landing capability.
“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 Grumman.
Kratos highlighted the cost-effectiveness and scalability of the combined system. “The integration of the Kratos Valkyrie aircraft system configured with the world’s best multifunction mission systems from Northrop Grumman results in a high-capability CCA at a price point that enables the uncrewed systems to be deployed in mass with crewed aircraft,” said Steve Fendley, president of Kratos’ Unmanned Systems Division.
The companies said they have already completed more than 20 flight demonstrations in operationally relevant conditions. Northrop Grumman noted that it has consolidated its sensor and mission systems into a smaller, more efficient package to reduce costs and ensure compatibility with uncrewed aircraft.
Kratos’ Valkyrie system is built around a modular airframe and flexible payload bays, allowing mission configurations to be adapted as needed while maintaining runway versatility across a range of operational scenarios.