CA-1 Europa

CA-1 Europa is an autonomous combat aircraft developed by Helsing of Munich, Germany, unveiled as a full-scale design study on 25 September 2025 at Helsing's Grob Aircraft subsidiary in Bavaria. It is a single-engine, jet-powered uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) in the three-to-five tonne weight class, intended to fly as a "loyal wingman" alongside crewed fighters or operate autonomously in swarms, and marks Helsing's entry into the European Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) market.

Overview

Helsing, whose main products to date have been AI software and its HX-2 strike drone supplied to Ukraine, revealed CA-1 Europa as a full-size mock-up at a media event at Grob Aircraft, the German training-aircraft maker it acquired in 2025, which hosts the programme's design and flight-test work. Breaking Defense reported that Helsing was targeting operational service within about four years of the reveal, implying roughly 2029, and said the design relies on a "resilient European supply and logistics chain" with unnamed European partners; TWZ noted the airframe's angular fuselage, dogtooth wing, side-mounted intakes, V-tail and tricycle landing gear closely resemble Boeing Australia's MQ-28 Ghost Bat.

In February 2026 Helsing and German sensor maker HENSOLDT announced a partnership to integrate HENSOLDT's radar, optronics, self-protection and electronic-warfare systems, plus its Multi-Domain Operations Core data-fusion software, onto the CA-1, alongside Helsing's own Centaur AI pilot software. Breaking Defense reported that by June 2026 Helsing had split the programme into two named variants: the CA-1KA ("kinetic attack"), the baseline strike aircraft, scheduled for maiden flights in early 2027, and the newly revealed CA-1EA ("electronic attack"), shown at the ILA Berlin air show on 10 June 2026 alongside rival CCA designs from Boeing Australia/Rheinmetall (MQ-28 Ghost Bat), General Atomics (Gambit) and Airbus (U760 Ravenstorm). Trade press has linked German interest in an electronic-attack CCA to the Luftwaffe's forthcoming Eurofighter EK jets, though as of mid-2026 Germany had not confirmed a CCA procurement programme or selected a winning design.

Design and capabilities

Helsing and Janes describe CA-1 Europa as being in the three-to-five tonne weight class; TWZ gives a more specific figure of about 8,800 lb (roughly 3,990 kg) and a fuselage length of about 36 ft (11 m). The aircraft is single-engined, with Helsing not disclosing the engine's identity, and is designed for high-subsonic speed. It carries weapons internally in a weapons bay, though Helsing has not disclosed payload capacity or the munitions planned for it. Control is provided by Helsing's Centaur autonomous-pilot software, which the company says can fly the aircraft as a single asset, in a swarm with other CA-1s, or alongside crewed fighters. HENSOLDT is supplying the aircraft's radar, optronics, self-protection and electronic-warfare systems under the February 2026 partnership, with its Multi-Domain Operations Core software intended to fuse sensor data across the fleet.

Operational history

CA-1 Europa has not yet flown. Helsing's baseline kinetic variant, the CA-1KA, is scheduled for its first flight in early 2027, and Breaking Defense reported in September 2025 that Helsing was targeting frontline service around 2029. The electronic-attack CA-1EA variant, revealed in June 2026, is aimed at a later service entry, which trade press has put at around 2031. No operator has been named, and Germany had not announced a formal CCA procurement competition as of mid-2026.

Variants

• CA-1KA (Kinetic Attack) – the baseline strike configuration, scheduled for first flight in early 2027.
• CA-1EA (Electronic Attack) – an electronic-warfare variant revealed at ILA Berlin in June 2026, carrying HENSOLDT self-protection and EW systems, targeting service entry around 2031.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Helsing CA-1 Europa?

Helsing and Janes place it in the three-to-five tonne weight class; TWZ reports a more specific weight of about 8,800 lb (3,990 kg) and a fuselage length of roughly 36 ft (11 m).

When will the CA-1 Europa first fly?

Breaking Defense reported in 2026 that the baseline CA-1KA variant is scheduled for its maiden flight in early 2027.

What is the difference between CA-1KA and CA-1EA?

The CA-1KA is the baseline kinetic-strike configuration; the CA-1EA, revealed in June 2026, is an electronic-attack variant carrying HENSOLDT self-protection and electronic-warfare systems.

Who controls the CA-1 Europa?

Helsing's Centaur AI pilot software, which the company says can fly the aircraft alone, in a swarm of CA-1s, or alongside crewed fighters.

Who will operate the CA-1 Europa?

No operator has been named. Helsing has targeted German and wider European interest in a Collaborative Combat Aircraft, but Germany had not announced a formal procurement competition as of mid-2026.