BERLIN AIR SHOW — Airbus today gave an in-person look at its new, futuristic unmanned wingman concept aircraft, appearing as a full-sized model at the Berlin Air Show here, as the firm announced a new teaming agreement with German artificial intelligence startup Helsing to work towards adding AI capabilities on the eventual airframe.
The new aircraft, simply dubbed Wingman, is designed to meet emerging operational requirements of the German Air Force. The platform is earmarked to work alongside manned combat jets like the Eurofighter Typhoon, teaming with them to deliver increased capability and air superiority over adversaries, Airbus said. The company has also stressed that a manned fighter jet pilot will instruct the Wingman, observing human-in-the-loop protocol.
When Breaking Defense visited the Airbus display today, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was checking out the theoretical aircraft.
Under the terms of the co-operation agreement, the manufacturer intends on providing “its expertise in the interaction of unmanned and manned military aircraft,” while Helsing will “contribute its AI stack of relevant software-defined mission capabilities, including the fusion of various sensors and algorithms for electronic warfare,” according to a joint statement.
Airbus first announced the Wingman concept online on Monday and noted that it is envisaged to deliver multirole tasks including reconnaissance, jamming targets or strike missions against ground and airborne targets by deploying precision guided weapons or missiles — operations that may be too dangerous to send a human pilot.
Michael Schoellhorn, Airbus CEO, said that the German Air Force had “expressed a clear need” for an unmanned aircraft that could operate with fighter jets ahead of the multinational Future Combat Air System (FCAS) entering service in 2040.
Airbus will be presenting its new Wingman concept at the International Aerospace Exhibition #ILA24 in Berlin. This fighter-type drone will be commanded by a pilot in a current combat aircraft such as the #Eurofighter and can take on high-risk mission tasks that would pose a… pic.twitter.com/ObXydUj3ZC
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) June 3, 2024
“Our Wingman concept is the answer,” he shared Monday. “We will further drive and fine-tune this innovation made in Germany so that ultimately we can offer the German Air Force an affordable solution with the performance it needs to maximise the effects and multiply the power of its fighter fleet for the 2030s.”
The company cautioned, however, that the aircraft on display is a model, and that the airframes final design may differ from initial concept.
Founded in 2021 and based in Munich, Helsing has quickly become one of Europe’s leading military AI startups.
On Monday it announced a “large scale” program dubbed Project Centaur, aimed at developing “autonomous air combat capabilities for existing platforms and future systems such as Loyal Wingman, FCAS, GCAP [Global Combat Air Programme] and other advanced air combat programmes across Europe.”
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Hinting at Project Centaur’s inner workings, the startup added that autonomous “reinforcement learning and foundation models for unprecedented performance and collaborative abilities” will be included.
Last year Helsing rose to prominence by securing key contracts for the AI ‘backbone’ of FCAS and delivery of a new AI-enabled electronic warfare platform, tied to Saab’s three-year deal to integrate Arexis modular electronic warfare (EW) sensor equipment on German Eurofighter EK (Electronic Combat) fighter jets.
In September 2023, it also raised €209 million ($227 million) during a Series B investor funding round, led by US venture capital group General Catalyst and reportedly drawing a €75 million ($82 million) investment from Saab for a five percent stake. Helsing said at the time that the new funding would go toward business growth in France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
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Author: Tim Martin
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