Airbus is showcasing one of Europe’s most comprehensive and versatile Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) portfolios at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin, highlighting its expanding capabilities in autonomous flight for defence applications.
Leading the display are two major developments: the U145, an autonomous uncrewed version of the H145 helicopter, and the U760 Ravenstorm combat drone, designed for collaborative operations with fighter aircraft across air-to-air, air-to-ground and electronic warfare missions.
“Whatever uncrewed or ‘drone’ capability our customers need to strengthen sovereign air power, we deliver,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. “Our portfolio ranges from rapid-response drone interceptors and various tactical drones, autonomous cargo helicopters to uncrewed fighter aircraft UCCAs operating co-operatively with crewed fighter jets. On the other side of the spectrum we have the Eurodrone, our very high payload and very long endurance ISTAR platform. Airbus provides the entire envelope of uncrewed capabilities required for modern multi-domain warfare. All our systems come with open architectures and a European mission system compatible with the wider European and international defence ecosystem.”
Airbus U145: the uncrewed H145 version
The U145 is being developed as a mission-agnostic platform for both civil and military applications, primarily focused on high-volume cargo operations. Its modular design enables expansion into roles such as disaster management, firefighting, armed scouting, surveillance and drone mothership functions for air-launched effects.
Airbus U760 Ravenstorm and U740 Valkyrie: the UCCA family
Airbus builds on two decades of Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) experience, dating back to the Barracuda demonstrator. The company is pursuing a phased capability development approach to meet evolving operational requirements.
U760 Ravenstorm: Displayed as a full-scale model, the platform features a 10 m wingspan and 13 m length. It is optimised for multi-domain missions, including precision air-to-surface strikes, air-to-air defence using anti-aircraft missiles, and electronic warfare for suppression of enemy air defences and offensive counter-air operations. The system is expected to be available in the early 2030s.
U740 Valkyrie: Developed in cooperation with Kratos and equipped with Airbus’ Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system, Valkyrie is targeted to deliver an operational UCCA capability to the German Air Force by 2029, enabling manned-unmanned teaming with the Eurofighter.
Airbus U010 Aliaca, U030 Flexrotor and U050 Capa-X: the light tactical drones
Airbus’ tactical drone portfolio provides a range of surveillance and operational capabilities tailored for diverse mission requirements.
The Aliaca is a 25 kg UAS capable of carrying up to 3 kg of payload for six hours, enhancing reconnaissance and decision-making. The Flexrotor, also weighing 25 kg, supports payloads up to 8 kg with endurance of 12–14 hours, making it suitable for long-duration missions. The Capa-X, a 120 kg platform, offers up to 20 kg payload capacity, providing high adaptability across varied operational environments.
Airbus U680 Bird of Prey: the uncrewed drone interceptor
The Bird of Prey is designed to counter massed aerial threats by engaging multiple one-way attack drones per mission. Following its first demonstration flight in March 2026, just nine months after project launch, Airbus plans additional test flights through the year to further advance operational readiness.
The Intelligence Layer: MARS
Ravenstorm, Valkyrie and Bird of Prey are powered by MARS, Airbus’ sovereign mission system. The AI-supported software core enables platform autonomy and is scalable across the entire UAS portfolio. Airbus also plans to integrate MARS into the Eurodrone.
Airbus U950 Eurodrone: Europe’s first strategic Large Long Endurance RPAS
The Eurodrone represents Europe’s flagship Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance platform, designed to deliver independent strategic ISTAR capabilities, early warning and anti-submarine warfare. The programme continues to progress toward its scheduled first flight in 2029.
