Luftwaffe

Airbus and the German air force, the Luftwaffe, are the focus of discussion around the XQ-58 Valkyrie combat drone and collaborative combat, in which crewed fighter jets operate alongside AI-driven unmanned aircraft. The talk links European defence efforts with Germany's push to adopt drone wingmen for future air combat.

Airbus is set to deliver its Valkyrie combat drone, based on the XQ-58 platform, to the German Luftwaffe. The move marks a step in Europe's push toward collaborative combat, where crewed fighter jets operate alongside AI-powered uncrewed aircraft. Defense observers see it as a sign of Germany accelerating its military modernization and of Airbus positioning itself in the emerging drone warfare market.