Airbus Unveils Unified Drone Portfolio and UCCA Roadmap at ILA Berlin

Airbus Defence and Space unveiled a comprehensive restructuring of its military drone portfolio on June 9, 2026, at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin, Germany, introducing a unified naming convention and a roadmap for uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft.

In a press release issued during the exhibition, the manufacturer detailed a strategic shift to provide a full spectrum of uncrewed capabilities designed to integrate with crewed fighter jets. The announcement formalizes the company’s Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) strategy, aligning its drone products under a new “U” designation system that mirrors its established “A” for fixed-wing commercial aircraft and “H” for helicopters.

Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft development

The centerpiece of the ILA Berlin showcase is the U760 Ravenstorm, an Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA). Airbus displayed a 1:1 scale model of the U760 Ravenstorm, which measures 13 meters in length with a 10-meter wingspan. The manufacturer expects the U760 Ravenstorm to be available in the early 2030s to operate cooperatively with crewed fighters like the Eurofighter.

To address more immediate operational requirements, Airbus is partnering with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions on the U740 Valkyrie. The company has set a target year of 2029 to deliver an operational U740 Valkyrie to the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). Both UCCA platforms will utilize the proprietary Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) Mission System to enable autonomous and collaborative operations in contested airspace.

Tactical drones and heavy-lift platforms

The newly branded portfolio spans from rapid-response interceptors to heavy surveillance platforms. In March 2026, Airbus completed the first demonstration flight of the U680 Bird of Prey, an uncrewed drone interceptor developed in nine months from project kick-off.

For light tactical operations, the company detailed three primary systems. The U010 Aliaca and U030 Flexrotor both weigh 25 kilograms. The U010 Aliaca carries a three-kilogram payload with a six-hour endurance, while the U030 Flexrotor supports an eight-kilogram payload and can remain airborne for 12 to 14 hours. A larger tactical option, the U050 Capa-X, weighs 120 kilograms and offers a 20-kilogram payload capacity.

At the heavier end of the spectrum, Airbus highlighted the U950 Eurodrone, a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) platform. The U950 Eurodrone is scheduled for its first flight in 2029. The company also introduced the U145, an uncrewed variant of the existing H145 helicopter.

Airbus Defence and Space CEO Mike Schoellhorn stated that the U950 Eurodrone serves as a “very high payload and very long endurance” Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) platform. Schoellhorn emphasized the strategic scope of the announcement:

“Whatever uncrewed or ‘drone’ capability our customers need to strengthen sovereign air power, we deliver. Our portfolio ranges from rapid-response drone interceptors and various tactical drones, autonomous cargo helicopters to uncrewed fighter aircraft UCCAs operating co-operatively with crewed fighter jets.”

AirPro News analysis

We view the formalization of the “U” naming convention as a clear signal that Airbus intends to elevate its uncrewed systems to the same core business tier as its commercial and rotary-wing divisions. The dual-track UCCA strategy is particularly notable. By partnering with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions for the 2029 delivery of the U740 Valkyrie, Airbus secures a near-term foothold with the German Air Force while buying necessary development time for its proprietary U760 Ravenstorm targeted for the early 2030s. This approach mitigates the risk of losing market share to rapid-development aerospace startups while ensuring European air forces have collaborative mass available before next-generation crewed fighters enter service.

Sources: Airbus