The Air Force Research Laboratory successfully demonstrated the first flight of its XQ-58A Valkyrie long-range, high subsonic unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The first flight of the XQ-58A Valkyrie was completed in 76 minutes of flight time and the Air Force Research Laboratory plans to do a total of five test flights in two phases in order to evaluate the system’s functionality, the aircraft’s aerodynamic performance and its launch and recovery systems.

The Valkyrie has been in development for two and half years and the Air Force said it is the first example of a new class of UAV that is created through low procurement and operating costs while at the same time providing new combat capabilities.

The Air Force’s long-term goal is to have the Valkyrie travel more than 2,000 miles with a flight speed up to 652 mph. The unmanned fighter can take off from a runway or launch into the air through a rocket and is designed to fly along another piloted aircraft for support. The Air Force has dubbed this type of aircraft a “Loyal Wingman” as it can assist in surveillance and eventually be used as a weapon.

Eventually, plans are to equip the Valkyrie with artificial intelligence, surveillance equipment and weapons, keeping humans away from harm.

In a partnership with Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems, the Valkyrie unmanned jet fighter is part of the Air Force’s Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) portfolio — a program that looks to cut costs of tactically relevant aircraft. The goal of LCAAT is to design and build unmanned aerial systems faster by developing better tools and leveraging commercial manufacturing processes to reduce build time and costs.