Airbus has unveiled the U760 Ravenstorm, a combat drone designed to operate alongside fighter aircraft in air-to-air combat, strike missions, and electronic warfare roles. The drone's unveiling comes at a pivotal moment, as the Franco-German-led plan to build a crewed New Generation Fighter (NGF) aircraft has collapsed, leaving a void in Europe's combat aviation ambitions. The Ravenstorm is part of a revamped drone portfolio from Airbus, which also includes the U740 Valkyrie, a Europeanized version of the stealthy XQ-58A, a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) platform, various tactical solutions, counter-drone systems, and the U145 uncrewed helicopter.
The Ravenstorm's design is reminiscent of General Atomics' YFQ-42A 'fighter drone' prototype, featuring a swept, mid-wing configuration optimized for stealth and maneuverability. It also has a dorsal inlet, which is closer to the EADS Barracuda demonstrator that flew for the first time 20 years ago. The drone is expected to be available in the early 2030s and will be used for air-to-surface strikes, air-to-air defense, and electronic warfare.
Airbus describes the Ravenstorm as the next evolution in its roadmap towards a scalable family of uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft. The company has highlighted the kinds of missions they will be expected to fly, including air-to-surface strikes using precision-guided munitions, air-to-air defense with long and medium-range air-to-air missiles, and electronic warfare for suppressing enemy air defenses.
The U740 Valkyrie, on the other hand, is a lower-cost aircraft designed from the ground up and is runway-independent in its original form. It is expected to be used in operational experimentation teamed with the Luftwaffe's Eurofighter combat jet, including demonstrating initial air-to-ground capabilities. The Valkyrie is designated U740 and combines the Kratos-designed airframe with Airbus' proprietary Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) Mission System.
Airbus' two-track approach to UCCAs reflects different cost points, with the Valkyrie being a lower-cost aircraft and the Ravenstorm being a more capable and costly platform. The company has already identified specific national or service requirements that it aims to capitalize on, and there could be a plan to use the Valkyrie more for operational experimentation before focusing on the fully sovereign Ravenstorm.
The significance of Airbus' new-look drone roster is greater now that the FCAS program's crewed New Generation Fighter is seemingly defunct. Collaborative combat aircraft like the Ravenstorm and Valkyrie emerged as a higher-mass, force-multiplying capability for current and future crewed fighters. The demise of the NGF means that these kinds of combat drones could be in even greater demand within Europe, where there is already a pressing need for larger tactical air combat fleets, while resources are limited.
