"Whatever uncrewed or ‘drone’ capability our customers need to strengthen sovereign air power, we deliver," said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.
Airbus unveils a new "U" family at ILA Berlin
On the eve of the ILA Berlin airshow, Airbus presented a newly branded line of uncrewed systems under a "U" prefix and described the collection as "Europe’s most versatile drone portfolio." The portfolio spans a range of platforms: the combat-focused U760 Ravenstorm; a Europeanized XQ-58A Valkyrie labeled U740; a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) twin‑turboprop now designated U950 Eurodrone; tactical drones; counter‑drone systems; and the U145 uncrewed helicopter. Airbus emphasized open architectures and a "European mission system compatible with the wider European and international defence ecosystem."
U760 Ravenstorm — a stealthy, multirole combat drone
The Ravenstorm (U760) is presented as Airbus’ flagship combat UCCA (uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft). Airbus is showing a 1:1 model at ILA; the company gives concrete dimensions: roughly 43 feet long with a 33‑foot wingspan. Visually and aerodynamically, Airbus highlights design choices common to fighter-class uncrewed concepts—a swept mid‑wing, twin tails and a dorsal inlet—and says the Ravenstorm is "optimized with low‑observable (stealthy) characteristics."
Airbus lists Ravenstorm's intended missions as air‑to‑surface strike with precision‑guided munitions, air‑to‑air defence employing long and medium‑range missiles, and electronic warfare roles for suppression of enemy air defences and non‑kinetic jamming. The company states the platform will be available in the early 2030s.
U740 Valkyrie, MARS mission system, and the U950 Eurodrone
The U740 designation applies to a Kratos‑designed XQ‑58A airframe integrated with Airbus’ proprietary MARS (Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure) Mission System—an AI‑supported, scalable software core for platform autonomy. Airbus provides a precise planned service entry for the U740: 2029, "with the German Air Force."
Airbus anticipates using the U740 for operational experimentation teamed with the Eurofighter, including initial air‑to‑ground capability demonstrations. Separately, the company says the U950 Eurodrone MALE—now part of the U‑line—remains in development for ISTAR, early warning and anti‑submarine warfare, with a planned first flight in 2029. Airbus intends to field MARS across its drone portfolio, including the U950.
Two‑track UCCA approach and legacy demonstrators
Airbus is pursuing what the company frames as a two‑track approach to uncrewed combat aircraft: the lower‑cost, runway‑independent Valkyrie (U740) alongside the more capable Ravenstorm (U760). The source notes the Valkyrie was designed as a lower‑cost aircraft and retains runway‑independent launch options, while the Ravenstorm "appears to be a more capable and costly platform," which Airbus positions as closer to Increment 1 of the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
The company also points to an institutional lineage: work on the Barracuda demonstrator (first flown two decades ago then retired after six test campaigns) and the Low Observable UAV Testbed (LOUT), a stealthy demonstrator developed covertly until disclosure in 2019. Airbus previously showed a Wingman concept in 2024—a larger drone with a 51‑foot length and 39‑foot wingspan powered by a Eurojet EJ200 turbofan—though the current status of that concept is described as unclear.
What this means for the German Air Force, the U.S. services, and European defence planners
- German Air Force (Luftwaffe): Airbus states the U740 is planned to enter service in 2029 "with the German Air Force." The source also notes the Luftwaffe has a requirement for an uncrewed companion able to operate with Eurofighter EK electronic warfare jets—an operational slot Airbus is earmarking Ravenstorm to fill.
- U.S. services: The Ravenstorm's design is compared to U.S. CCA prototypes, and the source links the U740/U760 approach to Increment 1 of the U.S. Air Force’s CCA program. The report also observes the U.S. Marine Corps is "focusing heavily on the electronic warfare mission for the Valkyrie."
- European defence planners and procurement authorities: With the apparent collapse of the New Generation Fighter (NGF) crewed program inside the broader FCAS effort, Airbus frames UCCAs as potential force multipliers for existing fourth‑ and fifth‑generation fighters—a capability that "could be in even greater demand" as nations face capability shortfalls and constrained resources.
Airbus has placed the Ravenstorm at the center of a broader pivot: a named, modular "U" family, an in‑house mission system, and timelines tied to 2029 for the U740 and U950 and the early 2030s for the U760. A 1:1 Ravenstorm model will be on show at ILA; beyond the display, outstanding specifics remain factual and limited to Airbus' descriptions—most notably how many Ravenstorm variants might follow and what will become of the earlier Wingman concept. The coming airshow demonstrations and the stated 2029/early‑2030s timelines will be the next concrete markers to watch.
