ILA Berlin 2026 opens today under the shadow of the biggest upheaval in European defence aviation in a generation. The Franco-German FCAS is dead. Team Gen 6 is born. And 650 exhibitors have descended on the German capital to show what comes next. This is not a trade show that pretends the world is at peace. From the Airbus U760 Ravenstorm unmanned combat aircraft making its public debut to the Leonardo AW249 attack helicopter appearing at an international air show for the first time, ILA Berlin 2026 is a defence exhibition that happens to have some civilian aircraft on the ramp. The timing is no accident. With European sovereignty at the top of every defence minister’s talking points and the FCAS rubble still smoking, Berlin is positioning itself as the continent’s aerospace capital.

The Ravenstorm Lands

The star of the static display is Airbus’s U760 Ravenstorm — a full-scale 1:1 model of the company’s unmanned combat aircraft concept. The Ravenstorm is designed as a stealthy, jet-powered drone capable of operating alongside crewed fighters in contested airspace. Details remain scarce. Airbus has not published specifications, performance data, or a timeline. But the scale of the mock-up — and the fact that Airbus chose ILA Berlin for the public reveal — signals that the programme is further along than analysts expected. In the context of the FCAS collapse, the Ravenstorm also serves as proof that Airbus Defence & Space has autonomous combat aircraft ambitions that do not depend on Dassault.

The German Heron TP long-range reconnaissance drone is also making its first appearance on an international stage, underscoring Germany’s growing investment in unmanned systems.

Italy Brings Its Newest Attack Helicopter

The Leonardo AW249 is making its global air show programme debut at ILA Berlin. The AW249 is Italy’s next-generation attack helicopter, designed to replace the A129 Mangusta. It features an advanced sensor suite, network-enabled mission management, and modern self-protection systems. The AW249’s appearance at a German air show — rather than at Farnborough or Le Bourget — is itself a signal. Italy is one of the UK’s GCAP partners and a potential bridge between the British-Italian-Japanese programme and Germany’s post-FCAS ambitions. Leonardo clearly wants to be in the room when Berlin decides what to buy.

Speed Meets Sustainability

On the civilian side, the Airbus RACER high-speed helicopter demonstrator will take part in the flying display. The RACER (Rapid And Cost-Effective Rotorcraft) is optimised for cruise speeds above 400 km/h — roughly 50% faster than conventional helicopters — while targeting a 25% reduction in fuel consumption. Its pusher propellers and box-wing design make it one of the most visually distinctive aircraft in the sky. The commercial ramp features Lufthansa’s centenary-livery A320neo, an Emirates A380, the Airbus Beluga, and a widebody A350 in flying display configuration.

The Defence Pivot

ILA Berlin’s organisers have not been subtle about the show’s reorientation toward defence. The 2026 edition features a larger defence pavilion, more military delegations, and an ESA-led Space Pavilion focused on dual-use technologies. Clean Aviation and eVTOL exhibitors are present, but the centre of gravity has shifted. Two days after Germany killed its fighter programme with France, Berlin is hosting the show where the replacement begins. That is not a coincidence. It is a statement. Sources: ILA Berlin, Airbus, AeroTime, Travel and Tour World, Defence Industry EU