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Munich-based defence artificial intelligence (AI) specialist Helsing unveiled the development of its CA-1 Europa ‘autonomous uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV)’ on 25 September 2025, showing a full-size design study of the collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) at its Grob Aircraft subsidiary in Bavaria.

The production version of the CA-1 Europa, according to Helsing, is expected to be operational within the next four years and is being developed with industry partners across the European aerospace ecosystem.

The CA-1 Europa pairs Helsing’s Centaur AI pilot autonomy stack with Grob’s aircraft design and manufacturing capabilities in the three- to-five-tonne-class.

Designed as an autonomous multi-role jet capable of high subsonic speeds, the CA-1 Europa is tailored to the requirements of intelligent air combat mass as a platform suitable for various missions, including deep precision strikes.

The platform combines a mass-produceable airframe with what Helsing describes as “powerful but affordable payload and world-leading software for situational awareness and mission execution”. It is configured to complete missions as a single asset or as part of a swarm.

The CA-1 Europa features an advanced software operating system for flexible integration of sensors, self-protection systems, effectors and software applications. Helsing says it will also deliver a command-and-control system to support operators in planning, controlling and surveilling assets in complex autonomous missions. The platform is natively controllable by Helsing’s Centaur AI pilot.

Helsing says it is working with leading players in the European manufacturing ecosystem to build the aircraft with a focus on scalability and a resilient European supply and logistics chain. Development and testing of the CA-1 Europa is taking place at Grob Aircraft.

Helsing’s co-founder and co-CEO, Torsten Reil, was quoted in a company press release as saying, “Uncrewed fighter jets will become a key capability for establishing air dominance and keeping us safe. Europe cannot afford to fall behind in this category or become dependent on third parties. With CA-1 Europa, we will make sure this does not happen.”

Helsing’s senior director for the air domain, Stephanie Lingemann, added, “The future of combat air is in attritable systems, with software and intelligence as a key enabling technology. As a consequence, the CA-1 Europa has autonomy at its core.”

Helsing’s UK managing director, Ned Baker, stated, “With Grob Aircraft, we already supply essential training aircraft to the Royal Air Force. CA-1 Europa will offer the RAF unprecedented combat air capability: an autonomous collaborative platform that can undertake a number of different missions to protect the UK without putting British pilots in harm’s way.”

Helsing, in collaboration with Sweden’s Saab, achieved a significant advance in bringing AI capabilities to military aircraft on 28 May 2025 when its Centaur AI pilot was used to control a Saab Gripen E fighter during three test flights.

The Centaur AI pilot has been developed by Helsing since 2023.

Helsing says a production version of its CA-1 Europa collaborative combat aircraft is expected to be operational within the next four years. [Helsing]