In October 2024, a significant milestone in air power evolution occurred over a European test range as two uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) executed a complex, coordinated flight pattern during an AI-supported joint surveillance mission. This operation showcased the capabilities of Airbus Defence and Space’s MARS Autonomy software, which enabled seamless collaboration between UAVs produced by the Czech manufacturer Primoco.
Thanks to MARS Autonomy, the UAVs operated in sync, demonstrating advanced threat detection and real-time data sharing. This shift represents a crucial departure from traditional remote control models, establishing a framework of human supervision that exercises command over these unmanned systems without the constraints of one operator per drone.
MARS Autonomy dynamically orchestrates both crewed and uncrewed platforms in real time, affording military operators the capacity to respond quickly to changing mission demands. This transformational capability is moving beyond experimental stages and into actual operational deployment, offering the connective force required to synchronize crewed and uncrewed units into a cohesive combat group.
In 2024, Airbus further validated its advanced teaming intelligence software by autonomously managing a fleet of Primoco UAVs through real-time flight tests that integrated technology from the German company Helsing.
The rise of collaborative combat is set to redefine the operational landscapes for air force commanders and pilots. In increasingly complex environments, where electromagnetic interference and drone swarms are commonplace, human operators require sophisticated digital tools to overcome these challenges.
Collaborative combat offers dual benefits: it allows pilots to transition from direct aircraft operation to higher-level mission management. By assigning high-risk tasks such as forward sensing or electronic warfare to uncrewed counterparts, pilots can reduce their cognitive burden while still preserving overarching strategic oversight. On the command side, collaborative systems create tactical advantages through superior numbers of uncrewed assets, enhancing operational resilience and enabling innovative tactics against dense air defenses, as evidenced by the extensive drone deployment observed in Ukraine.
Addressing the digital fragmentation that often hampers modern military platforms, Airbus is advancing a shift toward software-defined defense. This paradigm champions adaptable, software-centric systems over rigid hardware solutions, facilitating swift updates and improved integration across multiple domains.
“We are moving from platform-centric development to software-centric capabilities,” noted Robert van Tilborg, Head of Business Development and Portfolio Management for Future Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. This decoupling of software and hardware lifecycles allows for operational enhancements to be realized in months or even weeks, positioning air forces to respond to new threats with agile, software-driven solutions.
To articulate the integration framework for this collaborative combat approach, Airbus experts draw a biological parallel: the MARS Mission System serves as the brain of the operation, utilizing a modular, open architecture to enable multi-domain mission orchestration. Coupled with evolving platforms that can integrate new combat capabilities through ‘Software-Defined Evolution’, the MARS system facilitates timely and effective decision-making cycles in the face of adversarial actions.
Furthermore, the Crossbond component acts as a secure communication layer, currently undergoing tests on the A330 MRTT tanker to transform it into a crucial communication hub for airborne assets.
Airbus aims to emerge as a System-of-Systems integrator in this rapidly shifting technological landscape, working closely with defense partners who prioritize rapid innovation. By reinforcing European strategic autonomy through sustainable control of critical technologies, Airbus is enabling customers to operate within a secure, indigenous ecosystem, lessening reliance on external digital frameworks.
“In future air operations, superiority will be defined by the capacity to sense, decide, and act faster across a collaborative network of crewed and uncrewed systems,” van Tilborg concluded, underscoring Airbus’s commitment to empowering European nations to secure their own defense futures.
Source: Airbus Defence and Space (2026-02-04 00:00:00)
