Europe unveils AI wingman drones and autonomous helicopters to redefine air combat

Airbus unveiled its new "Ravenstorm" stealth combat drone and the U145 autonomous helicopter at the Berlin Air Show this week.

These aircraft are known as "loyal wingmen" because they are designed to fly alongside manned fighter jets to provide extra sensors, weapons, and data analysis. By using AI-driven drones to fly into high-risk areas first, militaries can protect their expensive manned aircraft and keep human pilots out of harm's way. This surge in unmanned technology is largely driven by lessons learned from the war in Ukraine and Europe's desire for a sovereign defense system independent of U.S. technology.

Aviation experts expect these autonomous systems to enter full production and change the landscape of aerial warfare by the early 2030s.