Valkyrie drones now cost $6-8M each — still relatively cheap in the military drone world

Kratos has revealed that its MQ-58 Valkyrie drones now cost between $6 million and $8 million per unit, depending on configuration and before mission systems are installed. This update came directly from CEO Eric DeMarco during a recent earnings call. While higher than previous targets, the company positions this price point as affordable for its class of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

The US Air Force and Marine Corps have been testing Valkyrie variants for years, with the Marines now acquiring fully missionized versions through their own CCA program. Kratos has also secured contracts with at least two other customers, including one international client that received drones in late 2025. The takeaway: in the world of advanced military drones, 'affordable' still means tens of millions per unit, but Valkyrie aims to deliver relatively high-end capabilities at a lower cost than competitors.