reconfiGurable Autonomous collaboRative UnmanneD Aircraft

2026-07-22

As the geopolitical landscape and balance of power continue to shift, European military forces face a critical need for next-generation air combat systems capable of operating effectively as part of a Combat Cloud in highly contested theatres of operation. To date, current manned and unmanned aerial systems face significant limitations in autonomy, adaptability, and interoperability, especially in collaborative networked operations. GARUDA project has the objective to establish in 36 months the foundational architecture for Unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (U-CCA) systems capable of evolving with the dynamic and long-term operational needs of EU Defence forces. An innovative « Design and Simulate » process, involving incremental iterations between system design and operational simulation, is used to design U-CCA as a polymorphic platform, providing a fleet of design variants centred around a « common core ». This disruptive approach will guarantee the long-term adaptation and relevance of our U-CCA platform as it would facilitate the rapid development of new specialised variants as operational requirements and needs evolve (a substantial fraction of the U-CCA solution concepts would be shared by all configurations). This ambitious global objective is decomposed into five specific objectives: (i) develop a common vision for U-CCA systems as part of a System of Systems, (ii) explore U-CCA technologies and design concepts that prioritise collaboration, variable autonomy levels, and modularity, (iii) enhance mission capabilities in contested environments, including manned-unmanned teaming, (iv) improve mission survivability and autonomy under challenging operational conditions (v) boost European technological independence and reduce reliance on non-EU suppliers. Coordinated by ONERA (French RTO), GARUDA gathers 6 SMEs and 1 mid-cap, favouring a consortium of small innovative actors to take strong benefits from their agility and motivation.

France, Sweden, Czechia, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Estonia

2026-02-01