OBERKOCHEN, Germany — German defense electronics company HENSOLDT has received its first contract to supply the CAIRAS (Compact Airborne Infrared Reconnaissance and Alert System) missile warning system for Helsing’s CA-1 Europa autonomous combat aircraft. The initial order covers three CAIRAS systems and represents the first concrete delivery of self-protection and passive optronic reconnaissance equipment under the strategic partnership between HENSOLDT and Helsing.
The contract also marks the first deployment of HENSOLDT’s Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), extending the company's airborne self-protection technology from manned aircraft to autonomous combat platforms.
Self-Protection Expands to Autonomous Combat Aircraft
Airborne self-protection systems have traditionally been developed for crewed aircraft to protect pilots and aircrew from missile threats. As autonomous combat aircraft are expected to operate in increasingly contested environments, similar defensive capabilities are becoming an important part of their design.
For the CA-1 Europa, HENSOLDT will integrate CAIRAS into the AMPS-MR (Airborne Missile Protection System for Multi-Role) configuration. The system combines the CAIRAS missile warning system with HENSOLDT's Kalætron radar warning system and a countermeasure dispenser designed to release decoys against detected threats.
According to HENSOLDT, this is the first time the AMPS system will be installed on an unmanned aircraft.
Christina Canitz, Head of the Optronics Division at HENSOLDT, said the integration represents an important step in the evolution of aircraft survivability.
"The integration of CAIRAS into an unmanned system marks a turning point: self-protection was long a matter for manned platforms. Now it is becoming a fundamental requirement for autonomous systems that must survive and make decisions independently. With CAIRAS as part of the AMPS suite, we are demonstrating that HENSOLDT is thinking ahead for this new generation of aircraft from the outset, rather than retrofitting them with protection."
Passive Missile Detection Without Active Emissions
CAIRAS uses dual-color infrared technology to passively detect and track approaching missiles at an early stage without transmitting radar or electromagnetic signals that could reveal the aircraft's position.
The system consists of a central processing unit and up to seven latest-generation infrared sensors, providing 360-degree spherical coverage around the aircraft. HENSOLDT states that the configuration offers a high probability of detecting incoming threats while reducing false alarms.
Because the CA-1 Europa operates without a pilot, it depends entirely on onboard sensors to detect threats and support autonomous defensive actions. The passive operation of CAIRAS allows the aircraft to identify and locate incoming fire while maintaining a low electromagnetic signature.
Supporting Situational Awareness and Autonomous Operations
Beyond missile warning, CAIRAS also contributes to the CA-1 Europa's situational awareness. Infrared imagery collected by the sensors can be processed into a real-time panoramic view of the aircraft's surroundings.
The collected sensor data can be transferred to HENSOLDT's Multi-Domain Operations Core (MDOcore) software suite, where information from multiple sensors is fused into a single operational picture. The processed data supports Helsing's Centaur artificial intelligence system, enabling the autonomous combat aircraft to assess its environment, execute missions, and respond to threats, including the deployment of countermeasures.
Partnership Between HENSOLDT and Helsing
The order is the first operational outcome of the strategic partnership established between HENSOLDT and Helsing in February 2026 to support the development of the CA-1 Europa autonomous combat aircraft.
Under the agreement, HENSOLDT is responsible for providing onboard sensor technologies, including radar, optronics, self-protection systems, and electromagnetic warfare capabilities. Helsing provides the advanced artificial intelligence technologies required for autonomous flight, networked operations, and large-scale data processing.
About the CA-1 Europa and HENSOLDT
The CA-1 Europa is an autonomous uncrewed combat aerial vehicle in the three-to-five ton class being developed by Helsing and its subsidiary Grob Aircraft. The platform combines Helsing's Centaur AI software and mission system with Grob Aircraft's aircraft design and manufacturing expertise. It is designed as a multi-role autonomous combat aircraft capable of operating independently or as part of a swarm while emphasizing European technology and supply chains.
Supporting the platform is HENSOLDT, a European defense electronics company headquartered in Taufkirchen near Munich, Germany. Under its partnership with Helsing, HENSOLDT is providing sensor technologies covering radar, optronics, self-protection, and electromagnetic warfare for the CA-1 Europa. The company develops sensor solutions, electronics, and software for air, land, sea, cyber, and space applications. In the 2025 financial year, HENSOLDT reported turnover of €2.46 billion, employed approximately 9,500 people, and is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as part of the MDAX index.
——— End of Article ———
