Airbus Helicopters Moves Forward with Crewed–Uncrewed Teaming

Airbus Helicopters is advancing the limits of contemporary aviation with a bold vision: facilitating seamless collaboration between helicopters and drones. This concept, referred to as crewed–uncrewed teaming, has the potential to revolutionise mission execution in areas such as military operations, disaster response and environmental monitoring.

Victor Gerin-Roze, Head of UAS Business at Airbus Helicopters, explains that the strategy focuses on enhancing the efficiency of crewed aircraft by integrating them with uncrewed systems. “Crewed–uncrewed teaming will be a capability-driven activity to enhance the effectiveness of our helicopters,” he said “Our plan is incremental, with short to long-term milestones.”

Airbus is taking a gradual approach to developing this technology. The first stage involves one helicopter working with a single drone. The next step will bring several drones, possibly including Air-Launched Effects, into coordination with multiple helicopters.

In the long run, the company envisions a scenario where helicopters can autonomously manage swarms of drones in real time. These drones could operate independently, detecting threats, deploying countermeasures, and protecting crewed assets without needing direct control from the helicopter crew. “It’s an exciting area of work,” Gerin-Roze says. “Every discussion with military, parapublic, and civil operators leads to new use cases and concepts. The potential is vast.”

A significant milestone in Airbus's development was the MUSHER project, marking a major advancement in collaboration between crewed and uncrewed systems. This project was the first instance where Airbus showcased large-scale cooperation between its platforms and those of other manufacturers. A primary objective of the project was to create a standardised communication protocol, serving as a universal digital language enabling helicopters and drones from various companies to communicate. The team successfully showcased what is referred to as Level of Interoperability 4, which means the drone could be directly controlled from the helicopter cockpit.

This accomplishment was not just a technical triumph. It demonstrated that a helicopter and drone produced in Europe can collaborate effortlessly, forming a unified operational system. “Being able to deliver this kind of sovereign European solution is even more vital today,” Gerin-Roze emphasises. “Pooling resources is essential to ensure interoperability, foster innovation, and strengthen Europe’s industrial base.”

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already involved and its significance is set to increase. Soon, AI might aid helicopter crews by analysing mission data, lessening their workload, and helping with decision-making. Gerin-Roze explains how this could look in practice: “Imagine tasking a swarm of drones to do reconnaissance by just selecting an area on the map. The drones would organise themselves, decide the best approach, and complete the objective. The crew doesn’t have to control each drone individually; the drones decide how to perform the mission.”

This change allows pilots to concentrate on higher-level command and control responsibilities, while AI manages routine data processing and tactical coordination. The ultimate aim is to enhance mission efficiency, safety, and reduce the demands on human crews. Airbus knows that this technology must move quickly from theory to practice. “We need to keep the ball rolling,” Gerin-Roze stresses. “This is a domain where we need to cooperate and gain as much experience as possible, especially through live operations.”

To achieve this, Airbus is speeding up the deployment of a crew–uncrewed teaming tablet, an essential tool that will enable operators to control drones directly from the cockpit. “Crewed–uncrewed teaming is not just about adding a new product line,” Gerin-Roze notes. “It’s about multiplying the effectiveness of all our products. We are well-positioned, but keeping our leading role in Europe starts with real operations.”

An important milestone in Airbus's plan is HTeaming, a novel modular system crafted to provide helicopter crews with complete control over uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) during flight. This marks a practical progression toward the envisioned future of integrated helicopter-drone operations. HTeaming can be set up as an independent unit or incorporated directly into a helicopter's mission system. The standalone setup features an intuitive tablet, sophisticated software for drone management, a modem, and four antennas attached to the helicopter.

Crucially, the system is designed for standard helicopter crews; it doesn’t require a specialist operator. The interface is intuitive, and the workload is kept low, aligning with Airbus’s broader commitment to improving mission efficiency and safety. Testing is already in progress. In May 2025, Airbus successfully conducted a flight trial with a Spanish Navy H135 helicopter and an Airbus Flexrotor UAS. The helicopter crew managed to control the drone during flight, showcasing the practical capability of the HTeaming system.

Additional trials are scheduled for various helicopter models and mission scenarios. These tests will demonstrate the system's ability to adapt to different operational environments, including search and rescue missions, tactical reconnaissance, and logistics support. Airbus Helicopters envisions a future where crewed and uncrewed aircraft work together seamlessly in civil, parapublic, and military sectors. The benefits are easy to see. Helicopters could perform reconnaissance missions without putting crews at risk, extend their surveillance range using drone relays, or carry out complex operations more efficiently with the help of autonomous partners.

As global defence and emergency response requirements change, agility, responsiveness, and interoperability will become crucial. Airbus’s investment in crewed–uncrewed teaming signifies not only a technological advancement but also a fundamental shift in the collaboration of aviation assets. “We’re not just creating a new capability,” says Gerin-Roze. “We’re creating a smarter, more connected way of operating that enhances everything we already do.”