Airbus Unveils 6-Tonne U760 Ravenstorm Drone, Targeting Early 2030s Delivery
Updated
Updated · Futura · Jun 12
Airbus Unveils 6-Tonne U760 Ravenstorm Drone, Targeting Early 2030s Delivery
3 articles · Updated · Futura · Jun 12
Summary
Airbus displayed a full-scale U760 Ravenstorm at ILA Berlin, pitching the 13-meter stealth drone as a European sovereign loyal-wingman platform for future fighter operations.
The 6-tonne aircraft is designed for three missions—precision strike, air-to-air defense and electronic warfare—and runs on Airbus’s European MARS autonomy software.
Airbus is using a two-track rollout: the U.S.-linked U740 Valkyrie is meant as the near-term option, with two flights using European mission systems scheduled later in 2026.
That path leads to planned U740 delivery to the German Air Force by 2029, while Ravenstorm is aimed at customers in the early 2030s and expected to team first with Eurofighter Typhoons.
Airbus says Ravenstorm builds on its 2006 Barracuda demonstrator, underscoring Europe’s push to field its own collaborative combat aircraft architecture rather than rely on U.S. designs.
Will Europe's new loyal wingman drones make traditional fighter pilots more or less relevant in future combat?
Is Airbus's two-drone plan a smart path to sovereignty or a detour through American tech?
As AI wingmen join the fight, where is the line between human command and machine autonomy?
Airbus U760 Ravenstorm: Europe’s Advanced Uncrewed Combat Aircraft Unveiled at ILA Berlin 2026
Overview
The unveiling of the Airbus U760 Ravenstorm at the ILA Berlin Airshow in June 2026 marks a pivotal moment for European air combat, introducing a new era of advanced uncrewed capabilities. Presented as a European sovereign solution, the Ravenstorm is designed as an Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) to operate alongside crewed fighter jets like the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35. This development reflects Europe's drive to strengthen its own air power and reduce reliance on foreign defense equipment, signaling a significant step toward greater technological independence and modernized defense strategies.