HENSOLDT and Helsing partner on CA-1 Europa autonomous combat aircraft
Sensor fusion and AI integration to power sovereign European autonomous air combat systems.
www.hensoldt.net
HENSOLDT and Helsing have entered a strategic partnership to co-develop advanced defence technologies within a sovereign German and European technology architecture. The collaboration aims to strengthen Europe’s autonomous defence capabilities through nationally controlled technology stacks and supply chains.
AI-enabled autonomous combat aircraft
The first joint project focuses on the CA-1 Europa, Helsing’s AI-supported autonomous combat aircraft. The platform is designed to enhance European air defence capabilities through integrated sensor intelligence and autonomous mission execution.
Under the agreement, the CA-1 Europa will incorporate advanced HENSOLDT sensor technologies, including radar, optronics, self-protection systems, and electromagnetic warfare capabilities. These systems will be digitally integrated via HENSOLDT’s MDOcore (Multi-Domain Operations Core), which provides the data fusion and networking backbone for cross-domain situational awareness and mission coordination.
Combined with Helsing’s AI agent Centaur, the aircraft will be capable of autonomous mission planning, real-time data processing, and secure multidomain information sharing.
Sensor-AI convergence for modern air warfare
The partnership reflects the growing operational requirement for military systems that can automatically collect, process, and act upon large volumes of data within compressed decision cycles. The integration of high-performance sensors with AI-driven software is positioned as a key enabler of adaptive, networked combat systems.
HENSOLDT contributes long-standing expertise in AI-supported sensor systems and multidomain data fusion across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. Helsing provides advanced AI architectures capable of autonomous aircraft control and high-volume data analytics within contested operational environments.
The collaboration follows a clearly defined division of responsibilities, with each company retaining technological ownership within its core domain.
Broader European defence technology alignment
Beyond the CA-1 programme, both companies are already collaborating with the Kongsberg Group on a sovereign European satellite constellation for intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition (IST), targeted for deployment by 2029.
Initial joint demonstrations of the CA-1 technology stack are planned in the coming months, in coordination with defence customers and industrial partners. The objective is phased validation of AI-enabled combat capabilities before operational deployment.
Oliver Dörre, CEO of HENSOLDT, emphasised that the future of defence systems lies in the intelligent integration of sensor technology and artificial intelligence.
Dr. Gundbert Scherf, co-founder and co-CEO of Helsing, highlighted the importance of sovereign air superiority and national industrial capability in ensuring credible European deterrence.
The partnership positions the CA-1 Europa as a sovereign European autonomous combat platform built on integrated sensor dominance and AI-enabled mission autonomy.
www.hensoldt.com
