Airbus UAV.
Airbus Showcases Range of UAVs at ILA Berlin 2026: BERLIN, Germany — The landscape of European airspace is undergoing a fundamental shift, driven by the rapid evolution of autonomous technology. At this year’s International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin, Airbus Defence and Space made a definitive statement regarding the future of sovereign air power. Presenting what experts consider one of the continent’s most comprehensive and versatile Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) portfolios, the aerospace giant demonstrated its readiness to meet the increasingly complex demands of modern defence customers.
The showcase arrives at a critical geopolitical juncture, where multi-domain warfare requires seamless integration between crewed and uncrewed assets. Airbus is positioned at the center of this transition, offering an ecosystem that spans from rapid-response interceptors to strategic, long-endurance reconnaissance platforms.
According to Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, the driving philosophy behind the expanded portfolio is total operational flexibility. Schoellhorn emphasized that the company delivers the entire envelope of uncrewed capabilities required for modern warfare, built on open architectures and a European mission system compatible with the wider international defence ecosystem.
Heavy Lift and Combat Teaming: The New Pillars of Autonomous Aviation
Among the major innovations drawing crowds on the static display, two platforms stand out as indicators of where military aviation is heading: the U145 and the U760 Ravenstorm.
The Airbus U145 represents a significant step in modifying reliable, crewed technology for autonomous operations. Developed as the uncrewed counterpart to the widely utilized H145 helicopter, the U145 is a mission-agnostic solution. While its primary role is slated for high-volume cargo supply, its modular design allows for rapid adaptation into civil and military applications alike, including disaster management, firefighting, armed scouting, and acting as a drone mothership for air-launched effects.
Stepping directly into the realm of high-intensity combat is the UCCA (Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft) family, a product line backed by two decades of research tracing back to the Barracuda demonstrator. The star of this family at ILA Berlin is the U760 Ravenstorm.
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Airbus Kratos Valkyrie drone.
Inside the Ravenstorm and the Valkyrie Roadmaps
The Ravenstorm, displayed as a 1:1 model boasting a 10-meter wingspan and a 13-meter length, represents a highly scalable future for collaborative combat. Designed to fly alongside crewed fighter jets, the Ravenstorm is optimized for multi-domain missions. Its operational profile includes air-to-surface strikes with precision-guided munitions, air-to-air defence via long and medium-range missiles, and advanced electronic warfare capabilities. Airbus projects that the Ravenstorm will be fully available to customers in the early 2030s.
For air forces requiring a more immediate solution, Airbus is advancing the U740 Valkyrie. Developed in cooperation with Kratos, the Valkyrie is scheduled for delivery to the German Air Force by 2029. Serving as a foundational step for operational experimentation, the Valkyrie will allow pilots to test initial air-to-ground capabilities and pioneer teaming tactics with the Eurofighter.
Tactical Agility and the Cost-Effective Interceptor
Beyond heavy combat and logistics, the modern battlespace requires localized, persistent surveillance and rapid-response capabilities. Airbus addressed these needs through its updated light tactical drone lineup and a highly specialized counter-drone asset.
The tactical portfolio features three distinct platforms designed for varying endurance and payload requirements: The Aliaca, a 25 kg system capable of carrying 3 kg of equipment for up to six hours to deliver robust imagery and reconnaissance. The Flexrotor, a 25 kg UAS optimized for long-endurance missions, capable of sustaining 12 to 14 hours of flight with an 8 kg payload. The Capa-X, a larger 120 kg system designed for maximum adaptability, carrying up to 20 kg of equipment across diverse terrains and missions.
Addressing the rising threat of massed aerial attacks, Airbus also highlighted the U680 Bird of Prey. This uncrewed drone interceptor is specifically engineered to engage and neutralize multiple mid-sized, one-way attack drones during a single mission. Having completed its first demonstration flight in March 2026—just nine months after the project’s inception—the Bird of Prey is designed to fundamentally rebalance the economics of air defence. Airbus has stated that additional flight testing will continue throughout the year to operationalize the system for global armed forces looking to secure national airspace.
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Airbus U145 Uncrewed Helicopter.
The Intelligence Layer: Driving Autonomy via MARS
Hardware constitutes only half of the modern defence equation; software serves as the vital connective tissue. The Ravenstorm, Valkyrie, and Bird of Prey are all powered by Airbus’ proprietary Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) Mission System.
MARS functions as the sovereign intelligence layer across the portfolio. Utilizing an AI-supported software core, the system enables high-level platform autonomy and scales seamlessly from tactical interceptors to heavy combat aircraft. In a move to unify its strategic assets, Airbus also revealed intentions to install the MARS system on its largest upcoming platform, the U950 Eurodrone.
Strategic Reach: The Eurodrone Standard
As Europe’s premier Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) platform, the U950 Eurodrone represents the strategic apex of the Airbus portfolio. Designed to provide independent, long-range Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities, the Eurodrone is also being equipped for early warning missions and anti-submarine warfare.
The program continues to progress steadily toward its highly anticipated first flight scheduled for 2029, cementing a comprehensive European ecosystem that bridges localized tactical awareness with continent-spanning strategic defense.
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