In a hangar in Bavaria, the unveiling of the CA-1 Europa marked a pivotal moment not just for European aerospace, but for the entire global defense landscape. The CA-1 Europa, a full-size, AI-powered uncrewed fighter jet, represents the continent’s most ambitious leap yet toward technological sovereignty in aerial warfare. More than just a prototype, this aircraft is a symbol of Europe’s determination to control its own defense future, as reported by ZME Science and The New York Times.
On September 30, 2025, Helsing—a Munich-based defense technology startup—introduced the CA-1 Europa to the world. This 3-to-5 ton class Uncrewed Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) is designed for high subsonic speed and scalable deployment. It runs on Helsing’s proprietary Centaur AI, a system capable of real-time decision-making and supporting solo, team, or swarm missions, according to company statements. The jet is being built entirely with European suppliers, a choice that ensures supply chain resilience and affordability, and underlines Europe’s intent to reduce reliance on U.S. defense contractors.
Helsing’s co-founder, Torsten Reil, didn’t mince words at the jet’s unveiling: uncrewed fighter jets are “a key capability for establishing air dominance.” He further warned, “Europe cannot afford to fall behind” and must avoid dependency on external defense providers. The urgency is palpable. Russia’s ongoing use of drones in Ukraine and the shifting security environment in Europe have spurred a boom in defense innovation, with startups like Helsing leading the charge.
But how did Helsing—founded just four years ago with backing from Spotify’s chief Daniel Ek and others—rise so quickly? As The New York Times details, the company’s approach is emblematic of a broader revolution in the defense industry. Instead of waiting for government contracts, Helsing and its peers are using private investment to develop and test new systems at breakneck speed. Globally, venture capital investment in defense startups soared to $31 billion last year, a 33 percent jump from the year before. In Europe, investments have grown fivefold since 2021. The result is a new breed of defense company: agile, innovative, and unafraid to challenge legacy contractors.
The CA-1 Europa is more than just a product of this new business model—it’s a test case for it. Development and early testing are underway at Grob Aircraft, a light-plane manufacturer that Helsing acquired in June 2025. This acquisition gave Helsing not only an existing production base but also a skilled workforce, accelerating the CA-1’s rollout. The company expects the jet to be flight-ready within four years of its unveiling. Though engine specs, armaments, and unit costs remain undisclosed, Helsing claims the price will be a “fraction” of that of traditional fighter jets.
This isn’t Helsing’s first foray into AI-powered defense. The company has already supplied AI-enabled drones to Ukraine, frequently updating them to adapt to rapidly evolving battlefield conditions. In May 2025, Helsing’s Centaur AI temporarily took control of a Saab Gripen E fighter jet over the Baltic Sea, demonstrating the system’s potential to coordinate complex missions and even outmaneuver human pilots in simulated dogfights. According to The New York Times, Centaur can process ten decisions per second and identify the most fuel-efficient course of action—qualities that could tip the scales in future aerial combat.
Europe’s push for defense autonomy doesn’t end with Helsing. Other regional initiatives are gaining traction: Rheinmetall has partnered with U.S. company Anduril, and Airbus has unveiled a “wingman” drone concept to support the Eurofighter Typhoon. Yet Helsing’s independence and speed set it apart. As Reil puts it, “You have to start developing these systems before the government starts paying for them.” The war in Ukraine has acted as a “battlefield laboratory,” accelerating the adoption of drone warfare—roughly 80 percent of targets there are now destroyed by drones, according to The New York Times.
Still, the rapid rise of autonomous weapons brings significant risks. Military analysts, such as Douglas Barrie of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, caution that moving from light aircraft to full combat systems is “a big leap.” The technical hurdles are daunting enough, but the ethical questions loom even larger. Who is accountable when AI makes a lethal decision? How do societies regulate and oversee machines that can act independently in war zones?
These concerns are not lost on cultural commentators. Filmmaker Werner Herzog, speaking on the Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast, acknowledged AI’s “brilliant, majestic possibilities” but warned that it’s “already moving to take the lead in warfare. It will be the predominant face of warfare in the future.” Herzog’s skepticism extends beyond the battlefield. Having seen films generated entirely by AI, he lamented, “They look utterly dead. They are stories, but they have no soul.” For Herzog, the danger lies in AI’s capacity for deception and its potential to erode the human core of both art and conflict. “Deceit, impersonation, propaganda—all of this is as if an enemy. It exists, and we must stay vigilant,” he said. Herzog urges critical scrutiny of anything delivered via digital means, warning, “Anything that comes through your mobile phone or laptop, email, everything—you should disregard, you should doubt.”
Helsing’s journey isn’t unique. Across Europe and the U.S., defense startups are rewriting the rulebook. Companies like Saronic Technologies are developing unmanned maritime vessels, while British startup Cambridge Aerospace is ready to begin production of missile and drone interceptors after just one year in business. At a recent London trade show, crowds watched as autonomous boats like Kraken Technology’s K3 Scout navigated the Thames, showcasing the modular, “plug-and-play” nature of new military hardware. These ships, costing a fraction of traditional military equipment, can be reconfigured for surveillance, search and rescue, or combat missions in a matter of hours.
The bottom-up approach of these startups stands in stark contrast to the slow, top-down cycles of legacy contractors. The F-35 jet, for example, began development in 1995, with the first contract awarded in 2001 and production starting in 2006. Each plane costs about $80 million. In comparison, defense startups boast rapid prototyping, modular designs, and an ability to update software and hardware on the fly. As Cynthia Cook of the Center for Strategic and International Studies notes, “Their approach doesn’t allow for the rapid adoption of emerging tech.”
Yet, as the sector attracts a gold rush of investors, some warn that profit motives may not always align with strategic or ethical imperatives. The number of firms equipped to navigate government procurement processes remains limited, and the timeline for returns is far longer than most venture capitalists expect. As Chris Sylvan of Cambridge Aerospace put it, “Selling to the government is hard. But it should be hard. That’s our taxpayer dollars, pounds and euros.”
Europe’s embrace of AI-powered defense is reshaping not only its military capabilities but also its industrial and ethical landscape. The CA-1 Europa stands as a testament to the continent’s ambition, ingenuity, and the dilemmas that come with technological progress. As the world watches, the question isn’t just whether Europe can keep pace—but whether it can chart a responsible path forward in the age of intelligent machines.
