The US Air Force says the Valkyrie drone launched another drone in a first for the aircraft

Business Insider ^ | 05 April 2021 | Ryan Pickrell

[zeestephen]

The XQ-58A Valkyrie is a long-range unmanned aerial vehicle capable of high subsonic speeds...During its sixth flight test on March 26, 2021, the aircraft conducted its first payload release from its internal weapons bay, launching an Area-I ALTIUS-600 small unmanned aircraft system. [Photo in Comment #1]

[zeestephen]

[ecomcon]

Coming soon to a town near you

[PIF]

Ripped from the War Zone

Stealthy Valkyrie Drone Uses Weapons Bay For First Time To Launch Smaller Drone
On its sixth test flight, Kratos’ low-cost stealthy drone launched a drone of its own via a tube launcher in its weapons bay.
By Thomas Newdick April 5, 2021
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40068/xq-58a-valkyrie-uses-weapons-bay-for-first-time-to-launch-smaller-drone

[zeestephen]

Thanks, PIF.

Great link.

I would have posted that if I had known it was out there.

[Bill of Rights FIRST]

Yep, once the foreign militaries take over and the several, some, or lots more enemies within our military that were “installed by”/planted by the CIA/feds./etc. into our military, etc.

[Big Red Badger]

Drones
From a
Drone.
.
Weird.

[The Louiswu]

You want Skynet, cause this is how you get Skynet.

seriously, how long before these drones start dropping bombs?

[corkoman]

Apparently there is a big focus on relatively cheap drones that can launch a number of even cheaper drones that go forth and do their thing.

Makes complete sense - I would hope that Taiwan gets 100 of these each with 10 mini hellfires that can take out a PLAN armada invasion craft.

[filospinato]

How long? Not long.

https://www.military.com/defensetech/2018/01/25/orbital-atk-gears-launch-hatchet-smart-munition.html

[walkingdead]

Valkyrie is designed to carry 4 sbd’s. That bomb bay in the belly is where those smaller drones were carried and launched from for this trial.

[Rebelbase]

Hopefully it has a better career than its namesake.

[T.B. Yoits]

It’s an insult to name that plane “Valkyrie”. The XB-70 Valkyrie, although it had issues, was worthy of the name.

[T.B. Yoits]

Launching smaller drones is a neat trick. They're still having trouble retrieving them in the air:

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/12/11/the-first-nine-attempts-to-retrieve-swarming-gremlins-drones-failed-heres-whats-next/

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342096087_C253_Radar_Cross_Section_Simulation_of_XQ-58_Valkyrie_Like_CAD_Model

[Eastern Shore Virginian]

Wait until it becomes a grandfather.

[Big Red Badger]

Up close and
Personal Wetwork in
.45 caliber.

[minnesota_bound]

#11 all happened just for a photo.
Radio: Get in tighter, yeah that’s it.
Then the fighter plane gets sucked onto the bombers wing and flips several times.

[Mr. Blond]

It’s an homage.