Germany’s Defence Startup Helsing Introduces ‘Europa,’ an Autonomous Combat Drone

SA TeamSeptember 26, 2025

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Three points you will get to know in this article:

1. Germany’s defense startup Helsing introduced an autonomous combat drone called the ‘Europa’ (CA-1 Europa).

2. The AI-powered drone is designed for collaborative operations, capable of flying autonomously, in swarms, or as a “wingman” with human fighter jets.

3. Intended as an affordable, disposable alternative to traditional fighters, its first flight is planned for 2027, with military readiness within four years.

AI-Powered Combat: Germany’s Startup Global Helsing's ‘Europa’ Takes the Lead

German defense startup Helsing, Startup Global, entered the escalating rivalry to create remote-piloted systems on Thursday with the introduction of its new autonomous combat drone.

Helsing, which was founded in 2021 and specializes in AI software, has changed its focus to supply Ukraine with systems for smaller combat drones following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

The “Europa” drone’s capacity to cooperate with human aircraft or fly in coordinated swarms with other drones is thought to be essential to the development of aerial warfare in the future.

Helsing said the “CA-1 Europa” will make its first flight in 2027 and be ready for military use in the next four years after revealing a full-size model of the angular, V-tailed drone at a plant outside of Munich.

Strategic Autonomy: Europe's Push for Independent Defense Capabilities

Given the growing importance of artificial intelligence and the urgent need for quicker development timelines, Helsing is the most recent military technology company to submit a bid to become a major weapon system producer in competition with major arms firms.

The four-ton CA-1 Europa is a member of the rapidly evolving class of unmanned combat aerial vehicles, which are less expensive and more disposable than traditional fighters as air forces deal with increasingly expensive and fiercely contested scenarios.

Affordable Innovation: Disrupting Traditional Fighter Jet Economics

According to Helsing (Startup Global), the AI-powered drone would fly by itself, in groups with other uncrewed vehicles, or under the guidance of sophisticated fighter jets in a formation known as “wingman.”

The U.S. Air Force last year chose Reaper drone manufacturer General Atomics and California-based company Anduril to create the first fleet of “Collaborative Combat Aircraft,” which can be used for decoys or jamming missions.

A life-size model of Airbus’s own drone concept, intended to fly alongside the current generation of fighters such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, was unveiled in June.

According to Startup Global Helsing, the project would entail cooperation with other unnamed European businesses and would involve investments totalling hundreds of millions of dollars.

Other than stating that it would be a “fraction” of the price of a regular fighter jet, it declined to specify what weaponry it would be able to carry or how much it would cost.