INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kratos ratos has released a rendering offering the first look at a version of its stealthy XQ-58A Valkyrie drone with built-in landing gear
The company first announced that this new version, which might present certain advantages over the original runway-independent design, was
XQ-58, seen at the top of this story
This is the third launch and recovery method the company has developed for the Valkyrie and follows the unveiling of a special launch
trolley last year that allows existing versions to take off from traditional runways.The uncrewed aircraft was originally designed for
completely runway-independent operation, using expendable rocket boosters to get into the air via ground-based launchers and a parachute
recovery system to get back down after a sortie
post on X about the new XQ-58 with landing gear also reads
and main landing gear units
The nose gear appears to be designed to retract forward into a bay covered by two trapezoidal-shaped doors, while the two main gear units
retract into bays on either side of the fuselage that are each covered by a single door.As depicted, the overall design of the CTOL/HTOL
version of the XQ-58 otherwise looks largely unchanged from the standard type
Kratos has not yet released more specific details about how the new configuration differs from the runway-independent one, especially when
it comes to its gross and maximum takeoff weights, speed, and endurance.When asked for more information about how the CTOL/HTOL differs from
existing XQ-58 variants, Kratos told TWZ that it could not currently provide any additional details
Week, according to a recent report from that outlet
runway-independent configuration can present limits on maximum takeoff weight, which, in turn, have impacts on range and payload capacity
