Northrop Grumman to leverage Kratos Valkyrie for USMC’s MUX TACAIR CCA programme

Northrop Grumman has been competitively awarded the US Marine Corps’ (USMC’s) Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) programme, the company announced on 8 January 2026.

The programme will combine Northrop Grumman’s uncrewed and autonomous system capabilities with Kratos’ Valkyrie uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) to produce a CCA that will operate alongside crewed fighters to provide air dominance in high-threat environments.

Under the contract Northrop Grumman will deliver a cost-effective mission kit, inclusive of sensors and software-defined technologies designed specifically for uncrewed aircraft, and the company’s open-architecture autonomy software package – known as Prism – that will manage the aircraft’s operations autonomously. This will be combined with the Kratos Valkyrie UAV, which will be fully equipped for a variety of missions that will include conventional take-off and landing capabilities, enhanced runway flexibility with a modular airframe and payload bays for customisable effects.

Northrop Grumman has packaged its sensors and other mission capabilities into a smaller envelope, resulting in a more cost-effective solution that is compatible with an uncrewed platform. Combining existing product lines and proven capabilities, Northrop Grumman, Kratos and commercial partners have developed a missionised CCA that includes survivability, connectivity, lethality and supportability elements.

“With more than 20 successful flight demonstrations in operationally relevant environments, Northrop Grumman and Kratos are offering the US Marine Corps a low-risk, expedited path to MUX TACAIR mission capability and persistent joint crewed and uncrewed expeditionary operations,” Northrop Grumman stated in a press release.

Krys Moen, Northrop Grumman’s vice president for advanced mission capabilities, stated of the deal, “Northrop Grumman remains at the forefront of advanced sensing capabilities, delivering innovative solutions that meet the needs of the warfighter with unmatched speed and reliability. This enhanced capability set ensures optimal performance for both crewed and uncrewed platforms.”

Steve Fendley, president of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, added, “The integration of the Kratos Valkyrie aircraft system configured with the world’s best multifunction mission systems from Northrop Grumman results in a high-capability CCA at a price point that enables the uncrewed systems to be deployed in mass with crewed aircraft.”