Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has unveiled its latest unmanned weapon platform, the “Ragnarök” Low-Cost Cruise Missile (LCCM), engineered for high-volume, precision strike operations at a fraction of the cost of legacy systems.
The system is designed to meet emerging demands for affordable, long-range firepower in contested environments.
According to the company, Ragnarök delivers a range of 500 nautical miles, supports altitudes up to 35,000 feet, and cruises at speeds exceeding Mach 0.7. It carries an 80-pound payload, making it suitable for a variety of air-launched or ground-launched missions across conventional or unmanned strike platforms.
In a statement, Steve Fendley, President of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, said:
“The Ragnarök LCCM represents our commitment to developing high-performance strike systems, for Valkyrie, that meet the evolving needs of today’s warfighter in conjunction with the budget realities that dictate what systems ultimately make it to the field.”
The missile features a carbon composite airframe, an optimized propulsion system, and a wing-folding mechanism for compact storage. It is compatible with standard 14-inch rack systems, allowing it to be carried internally, externally, or in palletized launch configurations—supporting both manned aircraft and uncrewed aerial platforms.
Kratos estimates the unit cost at approximately $150,000 per missile in orders of 100 or more, presenting what the company describes as a scalable strike capability at an accessible price point. That cost level could position Ragnarök in a new class of attritable cruise missiles, designed for swarming, saturation, or distributed strike concepts where mass deployment is a factor.
The system is positioned as complementary to Northrop Grumman’s “Lumberjack”, another low-cost cruise missile prototype that has drawn attention for its payload flexibility and affordability. Kratos emphasized that weapons in this emerging category are aligned with both unmanned and optionally manned concepts of operation.
“Kratos Ragnarök LCCM is a recent example of Kratos making the internally funded investment, moving fast, and rapidly developing a relevant, ready-for-high-quantity-production weapon system,” said Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos. “At Kratos, it’s products not PowerPoints, and we’re ready to manufacture affordably and in mass quantities today.”
The company confirmed that initial development is complete and Ragnarök is now ready for production. Kratos is currently working with defense stakeholders to assess operational deployment scenarios, including pairing with the XQ-58A Valkyrie and other uncrewed systems already in testing with the U.S. Air Force.
The platform’s design emphasizes rapid production, modularity, and flexibility, leveraging Kratos’ in-house capabilities in propulsion, structure, and unmanned system integration. The company has not disclosed customers or test schedules but signaled that it is actively pursuing both U.S. and allied deployment opportunities.
Kratos says it will continue refining the design for expanded payload types and launch configurations, with the goal of supporting distributed launch networks and low-cost unmanned strike formations.
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