The U.S. Marine Corps’ XQ-58A Valkyrie completed its latest test flight and first multiservice integration effort during Emerald Flag 2024 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in October.
Emerald Flag 2024 is a multiservice and multidomain test event that incorporates new and developing technology while focusing on the efficiency of joint warfare. The effort includes integrating advanced long-range kill chains, allowing programs to operate across various realistic combat training environments in air, space, and cyberspace platforms.
The XQ-58A effectively demonstrated its capabilities as a forward-deployed sensing platform, providing critical threat data to the Marine Corps’ fifth-generation aircraft to quickly close advanced kill chains. Using a common tactical data link, the XQ-58A contributed extensive sensor awareness information from both air and surface assets to multiple participants in the joint air and ground network.
“This XQ-58A test marked another milestone in the Marine Corps’ unmanned tactical aircraft program. The flight focused on using tactical data links to enable digital communication between the XQ-58A and four F-35Bs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214, as well as other joint aircraft. The success of this flight test during Emerald Flag advanced the concept of manned-unmanned teaming for the entire Joint Force,” said Colonel Derek Brannon, head of Cunningham Group and deputy aviation commander.
This joint collaboration was supported by the U.S. Air Force’s 96th Test Wing; the U.S. Air Force’s 96th Cyberspace Test Group; the U.S. Air Force’s 53rd Test and Evaluation Group; the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory; Marine Corps Aviation Headquarters; the Naval Air Systems Command Advanced Development Team; the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division AIRWorks; and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. This extensive team facilitated the ongoing research, development, testing, and evaluation throughout the Marine Corps’ Autonomous, Collaborative, Affordable, and Penetrating Killer – Portfolio (PAACK-P) program.
Cunningham Group, part of the Deputy Aviation Command, and the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory worked together to bring this project to completion.
“This test flight marked the culmination of the Defense Rapid Experimentation Reserve’s PAACK-P project and demonstrated the tactical utility of unmanned forward-deployed sensing platforms,” said Lieutenant Colonel Bradley Buick, future capabilities officer of Cunningham Group.
Through this successful joint integration, the XQ-58A continues to provide the Marine Corps with a proven platform to integrate new technologies and concepts in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force’s unmanned expeditionary tactical aircraft program.
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