Saab and Airbus are discussing a potential collaboration on unmanned combat aircraft designed to operate alongside manned fighters, similar to the US Air Force’s CCA concept. Executives revealed that a successful partnership could expand into a wider European air-defense ecosystem, especially if uncertainty persists around the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program. Airbus has been developing manned-unmanned teaming for platforms like the Eurofighter and has showcased its Wingman drone while partnering with Kratos on the XQ-58A proposal for Germany. European industry is pursuing several CCA-style initiatives, including partnerships between Anduril–Rheinmetall and General Dynamics–GA Aerotec.
