Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has partnered with North Dakota entities to successfully conduct test flights of the Kratos Valkyrie UAS and its associated Trolley Launch System (KTLS).

This system enables traditional rocket/catapult launch high-performance jet drones to be capable of traditional runway launch without RATO assist when runways are available at the operational site. The collaborative effort involved Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB), GrandSKY, and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS).

Leveraging Grand Forks’ unique ecosystem, its own extensive capabilities and North Dakota’s specialized operational flight test environment, the NPUASTS oversaw successful test flights of the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie utilizing the Test Site’s existing FAA certificate of authorization (COA).

“This is a perfect example of how the North Dakota drone ecosystem can lay the groundwork to bring more advanced UAS missions to Grand Forks,” said Trevor Woods, Executive Director of the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. “Kratos brings a completely unique aircraft to the ecosystem, and the successful flights from this past week are exciting to see executed in the region.”

Working closely with GrandSKY, the NPUASTS developed a comprehensive COA package that utilized GFAFB’s DASR-11 radar surveillance as a Ground-Based Detect and Avoid system. Throughout the regulatory process the NPUASTS partnered with Kratos to create a Concept of Operations (ConOps), compile aircraft system documentation, address lost link procedures, conduct safety risk assessments, and ensure compliance with Technical Standard Orders and FCC/Frequency regulations.

Steve Fendley, President Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, said, “The availability of the GrandSKY resources and the support from Senators Hoeven and Cramer, the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, and the North Dakota community at large has been an incredible enabler for our program. As we watch peer adversaries in both their preparations and active conflicts, and at the same time see the DoD budget impacts in our own nation, we have challenged ourselves at Kratos to solve today’s defense challenges with solutions that are realizable, near term achievable, and affordable. The perfect capability solution too late is really an abject failure; and we continually use this fact as a constraint on our approaches. We remain committed to developing and producing systems that are effective in the near term and deliver substantial effect/impact/utility per cost across the lifecycle.”