HelsingIn Development
An autonomous combat aircraft in the three-to-five-tonne class, developed and built by Helsing subsidiary Grob Aircraft in Bavaria and natively flown by the Centaur AI. Unveiled September 2025; at ILA Berlin 2026 Helsing added a dedicated CA-1EA electronic-attack variant alongside the CA-1KA kinetic-attack version, pitching the only all-European 'wingman' answer to systems like the EA-18G Growler.
Latest update Aug 2, 2026
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Full-scale design revealed Sep 2025; CA-1EA EW variant unveiled at ILA Berlin Jun 2026; Hensoldt to supply first three CAIRAS missile-warning units under the AMPS-MR self-protection suite (announced Jul 27, 2026); first flight targeted early 2027 (optionally piloted), IOC 2029 (KA) / 2031 (EA)
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Announced next steps from Helsing that mention CA-1 Europa.
Q1 2027
The Grob-built autonomous combat aircraft is slated to fly for the first time in March 2027 in an optionally-piloted configuration with a Grob test pilot aboard, with autonomous flights on a European test range planned toward the end of 2027. A successful maiden flight would validate Helsing's bet that a software company can field a combat aircraft in under four years and keep the 2029 IOC credible. Re-checked against September 2026 reporting: the target date is unchanged and the aircraft has not yet flown.
2029
Helsing targets 2029 initial operating capability for the kinetic-attack CA-1, with the CA-1EA electronic-attack variant to follow in 2031 - positioning it against Airbus's Wingman and US collaborative combat aircraft for German and allied orders. Re-checked on September 17, 2026: the target dates are unchanged, the CA-1KA has not yet flown, and its first-flight target (see the separate 'CA-1 Europa (CA-1KA) first flight' entry) remains Q1 2027. Watch whether Germany commits launch funding and how the Hensoldt sensor package matures.
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Electrically propelled X-wing precision strike drone (loitering munition) with onboard AI that keeps hunting and re-identifying targets through GPS denial and jamming, with a human on the loop for critical decisions. Software-defined and built for low-cost mass production; combat-deployed in Ukraine and ordered by the Bundeswehr.
Reconnaissance-strike software platform that fuses feeds from many drones into a single battlefield picture and coordinates swarming strikes. Acts as the command-and-control layer above HX-2 and other unmanned systems, and is deployed in Ukraine.
AI air-combat agent ('AI fighter pilot') trained by reinforcement learning at massive scale. In Saab's Project Beyond it took control of a Gripen E fighter over the Baltic in May–June 2025 - a publicly claimed world first for AI flying a real fighter in beyond-visual-range combat scenarios - and is the native autonomy stack for the CA-1 Europa.
AI electronic-warfare software that uses deep learning to classify unknown radar emitters and infer their intent in real time. Being integrated into Saab's Arexis EW suite for Germany's 15 Eurofighter EK electronic-combat jets under a €258M contract signed November 2025, replacing Tornado ECR capability around 2030.
A ~2 m, ~60 kg autonomous underwater glider that patrols for up to three months running Lura, a 'large acoustic model' trained on decades of ocean sound to detect and classify ships and submarines. Deployable in swarms as affordable persistent undersea surveillance; built in Plymouth for the Royal Navy's Atlantic Bastion program.
Autonomous quadrupedal ground robot, acquired with Keybotic in January 2026, built to navigate multi-story industrial sites without GPS using onboard cameras and sensors, climbing stairs and slopes while its visual, thermal and acoustic sensors detect anomalies and trigger real-time alerts. Originally sold for energy, oil-and-gas and mining inspection; Helsing is integrating it into its broader autonomous-systems and ground-robotics line.
A quadrupedal robotics research platform designed and manufactured in Europe, including Helsing-designed actuators, unveiled June 1, 2026 with the public launch of Area 9, Helsing's advanced research division led by Chief Scientist Antoine Bordes. Built for outdoor autonomy research rather than combat sales; Helsing is making it available to academic labs, starting with ETH Zurich (Marco Hutter) and INRIA Paris.
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