Airbus Prepares Test Flights for New Jet-Powered Drones in Germany
Airbus’s defense division is entering an active testing phase for innovative unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Germany.
The project envisions autonomous drones operating alongside manned fighter jets, taking on the most dangerous air missions.
The platform is based on the American jet-powered UAV Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie, developed by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. Currently, two of these drones are being adapted at Airbus’s facilities in Manching, with initial test flights planned before the end of this year.
The concept involves relatively low-cost, stealthy drones that accompany primary aircraft. They can conduct reconnaissance, carry weapons, or enter enemy air defense zones first, significantly reducing risks to pilot lives.
“Coordination between drones and manned aircraft will be managed by a specialized Airbus control system,” the company stated. This system assigns tasks among all group participants in a semi-autonomous mode using artificial intelligence algorithms.
In this strategic setup, the German Eurofighter Typhoon will serve as a kind of “command center” for the drone group. To enable this coordination, Airbus, in collaboration with the Israeli company Rafael, is upgrading Litening 5 targeting pods to include UAV control channels.
The developers plan for the full operational system to enter service by 2029.
It should be noted that Elon Musk’s companies are developing voice-controlled drone swarms for the Pentagon. Additionally, Ukraine and Denmark are working on an AI-powered drone interceptor.
