Airbus Ravenstorm CCA Concept makes its debut at ILA Berlin Airshow 2026

Airbus is giving a peek at its collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) plans beyond its partnership with Kratos, saying it plans to have an in-house developed system called the U760 Ravenstorm ready for delivery by 2032.

The system that Airbus is displaying at the ILA Berlin Air Show would be capable of air-to-air, air-to-ground and electronic warfare missions, the company said. It would have a maximum takeoff weight of about 6 metric tons, the ability to carry a payload of more than 500 kg (1,100 lb.) and fly at a high-subsonic cruise speed. Ravenstorm would have a 10-meter (32-ft.) wingspan and be 13 meters long, making it significantly larger than the Valkyrie. It features the typical low-observable shaping of most CCAs.

Ravenstorm appears to be Airbus’ follow-on plan to what it now designates as the U740 Valkyrie, which it is working on with American drone manufacturer Kratos. The companies aim for the start of flight testing this year to be ready to address European requirements from 2029. Airbus and Kratos last year agreed on the acquisition of a pair of XQ-58A Valkyrie CCAs to evolve them for the European market.

Airbus-modified Valkyrie drone prepares for flight tests

Unlike the U.S.-derived U740, Airbus bills the Ravenstorm as a “European sovereign solution.” That comes at a time when European governments have said they are keen to reduce their reliance on defense equipment from abroad. Airbus said the new design focuses on versatility, low risk and fast availability.

The system would feature Airbus’ Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system, which incorporates AI-supported software known as Mindshare. “Its modularity will allow for the incremental addition of capabilities, expanding its scope into even more complex missions,” Airbus said.

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