Airbus eyes Europe's drone future by unveiling AI-powered combat aircraft

As Europe's flagship next-generation fighter ambitions continue to face mounting uncertainty, Airbus is placing a major bet on autonomous combat drones, unveiling plans for a new homegrown collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) that it hopes will enter service early next decade.

The aerospace giant is set to reveal its latest concept at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin, showcasing a domestically developed platform known as the U760 Ravenstorm, which Airbus announced in a press release could be ready for delivery by the early 2030s.

Designed as a versatile, AI-enabled combat drone, Ravenstorm will be capable of carrying out air-to-air, air-to-ground and electronic warfare missions. According to Airbus, the aircraft will feature a maximum takeoff weight of around six metric tons, carry payloads exceeding 500 kilograms and cruise at high-subsonic speeds.

According to an analysis of the European manufacturer's next move by The War Zone, the unveiling marks Airbus' next step beyond its existing partnership with US defence company Kratos, with which it is jointly developing the U740 Valkyrie—a European adaptation of the XQ-58A Valkyrie collaborative combat aircraft. The companies plan to begin flight testing later this year, aiming to meet European operational requirements from 2029 after agreeing last year to acquire two XQ-58A aircraft for further development.

The larger Ravenstorm appears to represent Airbus' long-term vision for a fully European-designed platform. With a wingspan of 10 meters and a length of 13 meters, it is significantly bigger than the Valkyrie and incorporates the stealth-oriented shaping that has become characteristic of modern collaborative combat aircraft.

Airbus describes the new platform as a "European sovereign solution," underscoring a growing push by European governments to reduce dependence on foreign defence technologies as geopolitical tensions reshape procurement priorities. According to the company, the aircraft has been designed with an emphasis on versatility, low development risk and rapid availability.

The aircraft will be equipped with Airbus' Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system, integrating AI-supported software known as Mindshare. "Its modularity will allow for the incremental addition of capabilities, expanding its scope into even more complex missions," Airbus said.

Although Ravenstorm represents a new chapter, Airbus has pursued autonomous combat aircraft concepts for more than two decades. The company flew its Barracuda unmanned combat demonstrator in the early 2000s before unveiling its "Wingman" concept in 2018 as a loyal drone companion for crewed fighter aircraft.

With demand for collaborative combat aircraft expected to accelerate across Europe, Airbus now finds itself competing against major industry players including Boeing, General Atomics, Helsing and Rheinmetall for a share of what is rapidly emerging as one of the continent's most strategically important defence markets.

By Nazrin Sadigova