A new unmanned stealth aircraft bomber, the CA-1 Europa, has been unveiled for the first time by the German company Helsing, which specializes in artificial intelligence (AI). The jet drone’s primary function is to strike high-value targets and penetrate enemy air defenses (AD) at low altitudes and high speed, essentially conducting tasks that were previously performed by the Tornado fighter-bomber.
Helsing is a European start-up that was established in Munich in 2021. It is essentially a European version of Anduril. Helsing integrates the development of contemporary military platforms with artificial intelligence and software.
The CA-1 (Combat Aircraft 1) concept was developed and built in less than 14 weeks, as per the company. The initiative to develop a flight-capable demonstrator is currently set to receive an investment of several hundred million euros. The initial flight is scheduled for 2027.
Markus Söder, the Bavarian Foreign Minister, was present at the presentation, which took place at the facility of Grob Aircraft’s subsidiary in Tussenhausen. Grob Aircraft is a company that specializes in the production of aircraft that weigh between three and five tonnes. It maintains an airfield and a facility in Tussenhausen. The site is equipped with infrastructure, including hangars, production halls, composite production, workshops, and certification facilities. Tussenhausen has been manufacturing trainer and light turboprop aircraft since the 1970s, which means that it has access to experienced personnel and local supplier connections.
A container camp was also built at the airfield by the company, which facilitated the rapid relocation of several new engineers to expedite the aircraft’s further development. This implies that the CA-1 is not merely a PowerPoint presentation; rather, it is receiving political backing, as evidenced by Söder’s attendance.
The level of AI and its capacity to execute real-world duties are critical components of any jet drone. This is contingent upon the system’s capacity to learn and adapt, the quality of the data, and the extent of testing. In the final analysis, the software is more important than aerodynamic and mechanical solutions, despite their visual appeal.
Gundbert Scherf, the CEO and co-founder of Helsing, stated that Artificial intelligence is not merely a function. The design is actually influenced by it. It influences the manner in which one conceptualizes a mission, the concept of operations, and the actual process of combat. Consequently, the ability to work with less sophisticated hardware is facilitated by the development of intricate software and the mastery of this domain. “AI is not just a feature, it is an element that designs the system itself. That is why we consider it logical that a company working on AI develops an autonomous system. And with the CA-1 Europa, as we have named it, today we are offering Europe the opportunity to do so. From Europe, for Europe,” he added.
The development of the Centaur AI algorithm is the main source of experience for CA-1 Europa. In this year, the JAS-39 Gripen E fighter was effectively tested with that algorithm. The algorithm assumed complete control of the Gripen’s armaments system in order to execute “complex combat maneuvers.”
According to the company, the software processes the tactical situation from provided sensors, plans, maneuvers, strikes the enemy, and avoids threats; a pilot in the role of an overseer operator can assume control of the aircraft at any time.
According to Helsing, the CA-1 Europa integrates Grob’s expertise in the development and production of three-to-five-ton aircraft with the capabilities of the Centaur AI agent. Additionally, the aircraft has the capacity to incorporate two additional AI algorithms: Symphony, which integrates intelligence in real time to improve operational coordination, and Cirra, which is designed for electronic warfare.
The CA-1 is indicative of the current trend: combat operations will be conducted by a greater number of simplified, mission-focused, and potentially expendable platforms that will collaborate intelligently in swarms, rather than a small number of highly complex multirole fighters. In this context, quantity is equivalent to quality.
There are currently few tactical-technical details available regarding the CA-1. The company declined to disclose the specific model of jet engine that was chosen. The CA-1 Europa is purported to achieve velocities that are just below the speed of sound with this engine. Its maximal takeoff weight is 4,000 kilograms, and its length is 11 meters.
The engine must be a business-jet-class unit from a European manufacturer, as the corporation consistently emphasizes European sovereignty. One potential indication is the Grob SPn Utility Jet, a twenty-year-old project that was designed to be a light business jet capable of accommodating ten passengers. This aircraft had a maximum takeoff weight of 6,400 kg and was propelled by a pair of Williams FJ44-3A jet engines, which are also used to power the Czech Aero L-39 Skyfox.
By the way, the SPn development consumed over €120 million, which was an untenable encumbrance for the Grob family company. Grob Aircraft’s financial collapse surrounding the SPn program was the primary cause of their insolvency in 2008. Additionally, a prototype crashed tragically in 2006. Ultimately, the initiative was not completed or brought to market.
Nevertheless, Europe lacks a contemporary, serially produced jet engine in the 10–15 kN thrust class (FJ44 class); the primary contender is the Orpheus engine, which is presently under development by British Rolls-Royce. The serial thrust of Orpheus’s final configuration is not specified in publicly available information. The manufacturer asserts that the engine is extremely modular and scalable, rendering it suitable for smaller unmanned systems as well.
CA-1 Europa was developed with a “software-first” approach; it is a software-defined weapon in which hardware serves as a secondary component. Advanced software will enable the attainment of high performance on a mechanical platform that is relatively straightforward and inexpensive. The objective is to establish a “intelligent mass” of platforms that can be promptly and effectively compensated for losses. The company asserts that a single CA-1 will be priced at a fraction of the cost of a piloted fighter aircraft.
The CA-1 Europa was developed as a hardware-modular platform and an open mission system. By design, the software architecture is extensible, scalable, and open. Sensors and effectors are modular, which allows for effortless integration and replacement. This enables the CA-1 to fulfill additional functions, such as being converted into a cruise missile-type weapon, conducting air-to-air missions, electronic warfare, or reconnaissance.
The CA-1 Europa employs a sophisticated software operating system that facilitates the flexible integration of sensors, self-defense systems, armament, and supplementary software. Additionally, Helsing will provide command-and-control systems to assist operators in the planning, control, and supervision of systems during intricate autonomous missions. Centaur, an AI-based aviator from Helsing, will operate the platform. The company’s press release indicates that the CA-1 Europa is appropriate for a diverse array of missions, such as the precise neutralization of targets located deep within adversary territory.
The fundamental purpose of software-defined weapons is straightforward: to avoid the development of a closed “ultimate” system. A closed system of this nature would be inefficient in a time when battlefield tactics can change within months and operational and strategic objectives shift. A platform that is capable of constant adaptation to tactical, operational, and strategic changes is required. For instance, in the context of Ukraine, the emphasis should be on Russian oil infrastructure. The objective is to achieve effective, straightforward, and rapid adaptation.
An unmanned combat aircraft that can be deployed independently or in conjunction with piloted systems should be available at the conclusion of the development process. Internal weapon bays and retractable landing gear are among the platform’s covert design features. It appears that the internal armament bay has sufficient capacity to accommodate two standard Mk-82 bombs, each weighing approximately 230 kg, in their GPS-guided (JDAM) or laser-guided (Paveway) versions.
Range data was not provided by the organization. Range will likely be restricted to internal fuel only, as there is no indication of aerial refueling capability or hardpoints for external armaments or tanks. The system’s effective range can be approximated at approximately 1,000 kilometers, as it is designed to operate at low flight levels with increased fuel consumption and must return.