Thanatos: US firm unveils its most advanced stealth drone to date

San Diego, California-based Kratos Defense and Security Solutions has unveiled a rendering of its much-awaited and most advanced drone, Thanatos. The rendering was shared as part of the company's financial results and forecast for its future.

Drone-based warfare is rapidly becoming a common sight these days. Last year, the Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression was powered by low-cost drones made by the local industry. There are also multiple instances of countries like Iran using suicide drones made entirely out of off-the-shelf parts.

The US, on the other hand, is looking at drones as companions to its advanced fighter jets being built as part of its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) plans. The US forces are keen on using highly advanced drones that can fly over long distances, hit intended targets, and make their way back to the base. This makes them as advanced as fighter jets but without human pilots, and multiple providers are racing to make this a reality.

Named after the Greek mythological figure who personifies death, the existence of the Thanatos drone has been in the public domain since 2019. However, not much has been revealed by the company that has also brought us designs, such as the XQ58-A Valkyrie and UTAP-22 Mako drones.

The rendering released by the company is the first look at the design so far and isn't surprising for a stealth drone. As seen in other stealth designs, the Thanatos is a tailless bird with a shovel nose design and a platypus-like edge extending over the exhaust.

The deep chine line and recessed inlets are meant to help the drone stay off the radar, while the covered tail is designed to avoid being spotted on infrared either. The diamond-shaped wings offer lesser drag when the drone travels at supersonic speeds, giving us an idea of what Thanatos will be capable of.

Where will one see it in action?

Kratos has not revealed any information about the drone's weapons capabilities, so it isn't easy to gauge how it will be proposed. One obvious clue coming from the rendering is the US Air Force logo, which Kratos typically does while pitching its drones to a specific branch of the military.

In addition to its NGAD plans, the US Air Force has also said that it is looking to procure 1,000 uncrewed aircraft that will accompany its advanced fighter jets as part of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. In this role, a Thanatos would likely serve as a weapons truck to carry air-to-air missiles for the fighters, carry capabilities of electronic warfare alongside B-21 Raiders, or even operate on their own.

The Air Force has invited competing designs for this program in the coming year and expects work on the drones to begin by 2025, something Kratos also outlined in its financial projections.

In addition, the US Navy also has plans to induct advanced drones that can coordinate and collaborate with other services, such as the Air Force. So, a Thanatos would make sense there, too, especially if the two services are looking for capabilities such as handing off control during operations.