First USMC MQ-58 Valkyrie CCA Drones To Arrive In 2029

Summary

The U.S. Marine Corps has announced plans to field its first conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones, specifically variants of the Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie designated as MQ-58, by the summer of 2029. These drones fall under the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) program, which evolved from an earlier initiative known as PAACK-P, and are intended to enhance the lethality of existing and future tactical aircraft in high-threat environments. The Marine Corps is transitioning from rocket-assisted takeoff variants of the XQ-58 to a conventional takeoff and landing version, with a first CTOL flight targeted for mid-to-late summer of this year, and eventual delivery of prototypes to VMX-1 in Yuma for operational testing and tactical development. Beyond the MQ-58, the Corps is exploring additional CCA options with multiple vendors including General Atomics, Anduril, and Northrop Grumman, while also investigating short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities to reduce dependence on long runways. The program is designed as a "bridge" toward next-generation air combat capabilities, including potential integration with F-35B aircraft and possibly a future sixth-generation crewed fighter.