Autonomous Loyal Wingman Drones Debut at Berlin Air Show

A new generation of autonomous combat aircraft took center stage at the Berlin Air Show last week, as major defense contractors competed to sell European militaries on the future of aerial warfare. Four companies-Airbus, Boeing, the German software firm Helsing, and General Atomics-showcased their latest designs for so-called "loyal wingman" drones, uncrewed jets built to fly alongside and augment manned fighter aircraft.

These collaborative combat aircraft are designed to carry extra sensors, electronic jammers, and weapons, acting as force multipliers that absorb risk on missions ranging from air-to-air combat to ground strikes. The conflict in Ukraine, where drones and electronic warfare have proven decisive, has accelerated demand for such systems. Industry officials argue that pairing a small number of expensive crewed jets with a larger fleet of cheaper, AI-powered drones is the logical next step.

The push for these systems coincides with a broader European debate over defense sovereignty and reducing reliance on the United States. Stephanie Lingemann, head of the air domain at Helsing, emphasized that the AI controlling these systems "needs to be controlled in a sovereign...