Helsing used the opening day of the ILA Berlin air show on 10 June to launch the CA-1EA, an electronic attack variant of its in-development CA-1 Europa uncrewed combat air vehicle, with the platform expected to reach initial operational capability in 2031.
Centaur AI airframe gains broadband jammer
The CA-1EA will share the airframe, engine and Centaur artificial intelligence system of the kinetic CA-1KA version unveiled in 2025, but adds a Kaeletron broadband jammer supplied by strategic partner Hensoldt. In an escort jammer role, a single CA-1EA would safeguard a lone strike aircraft, while four would protect a pair of Eurofighters, opening a strike corridor by suppressing enemy air defences and, if necessary, firing air-to-surface weapons against them.
Experimental aircraft in build at Grob
Helsing also detailed progress on an experimental Europa airframe being produced by subsidiary Grob Aircraft in Tussenhausen, Bavaria. Stephanie Lingemann, Helsing's vice-president for air domain, said the optionally-piloted prototype will fly for the first time in March 2027 with a Grob test pilot at the controls, before transitioning to autonomous test flights on a European range by late 2027. A first composite wing section is on display at ILA.
European UCAV race accelerates
Six-ship CA-1 formations would survive an engagement with two enemy fighters, Helsing's simulations indicate, with co-CEO Gundbert Scherf calling the recent cancellation of the Franco-German-Spanish New Generation Fighter "a decision that was overdue." The 4t-class Europa will carry a 500kg payload and is being developed alongside Helsing's Area 9 research division and the $1.2B Dragoneer-led funding round that valued Helsing at $18B in May. The HX-2 strike drone, already in Ukrainian combat use, demonstrates the company's deployed scale.
The CA-1EA reveal lands the same week the Pentagon's CDAO selected 25 firms for Crucible 2 and Europe doubles down on sovereign defence AI.
Reporting based on coverage from FlightGlobal.