Helsing CA-1EA Electronic Attack CCA Unveiled at ILA Berlin

Defense technology company Helsing unveiled the CA-1 Electronic Attack (CA-1EA) autonomous combat aircraft at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA Berlin) on June 10, 2026. The new variant expands the company’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) portfolio to include dedicated escort jamming capabilities designed to suppress adversary air defenses.

According to a company press release, the CA-1EA will operate alongside crewed fighters like the Eurofighter Typhoon and uncrewed platforms to create safe flight corridors. Coinciding with the new variant’s debut, Helsing formally designated its original kinetic strike platform as the CA-1KA.

Platform commonality and electronic warfare payload

The CA-1EA and CA-1KA share a common airframe, propulsion system, autonomy software suite, and ground control infrastructure. Helsing stated that this shared architecture is intended to reduce manufacturing and maintenance costs across the product line.

To equip the CA-1EA, Helsing partnered with German defense electronics manufacturers Hensoldt AG. According to reporting by Aviation Week, Hensoldt will provide the Kalaetron electronic attack jammer. The aviation publication noted that the CA-1EA will feature a second generator specifically to power the jamming equipment.

The integration of the electronic warfare suite alters the aircraft’s payload capacity. Aviation Week reported that while the CA-1KA strike configuration features a 500-kilogram (1,102-pound) payload capacity, the CA-1EA retains 250 kilograms of capacity for short-range missiles. The jammer is reportedly capable of thwarting adversary air defenses at a range of 100 kilometers (54 nautical miles).

Development timeline and operational targets

Helsing outlined a phased development and testing schedule for the CA-1 family. Flight trials for the platform are expected to begin in March 2027. These initial flights will be optionally piloted to comply with local airspace restrictions.

The company projects that a pre-series configuration of the CA-1EA will fly in 2028. The kinetic CA-1KA variant is scheduled to reach Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in 2029, followed by the CA-1EA in 2031.

“Modern air forces cannot do without electronic warfare. Helsing has been working to develop this capability for years. The CA-1EA is the result: an unmanned system that operates alongside the CA-1KA at tactical range, but can also be deployed flexibly as a standalone platform for electronic warfare,” said Stephanie Lingemann, Vice President Air Domain at Helsing.

The development aligns with stated requirements from the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). Aviation Week reported that the Luftwaffe has expressed active interest in fielding airborne electronic attack systems, specifically escort jammers capable of operating alongside other CCAs or crewed fighters.

AirPro News analysis

We view the introduction of the CA-1EA as a strong indicator of a growing emphasis on electronic warfare within European collaborative combat aircraft programs. By utilizing a common airframe produced by subsidiary Grob Aircraft SE, Helsing is attempting to solve the traditional cost barriers associated with specialized electronic attack platforms. If the 2031 IOC target is met, we expect the CA-1EA could provide European allied air forces with affordable, autonomous mass in a highly contested electromagnetic spectrum, significantly reducing the risk to crewed assets during initial strike missions.

Sources: Helsing