Airbus announces multiple deals at ILA Berlin

Airbus and Diehl Defence sign agreement on integrated air and missile defence: Airbus Defence and Space and Diehl Defence have signed an agreement with the objective to intensify their cooperation in the field of integrated air and missile defence (IAMD), based on both companies’ complementary technical capabilities. The agreement was signed on the occasion of the ILA Berlin Air Show 2026. Both Airbus Defence and Space and Diehl Defence have a long and successful track record of joining forces for ground-based air defence (GBAD) systems, namely IRIS-T SLM: this medium-range system protects buildings, civilian infrastructure, and high-value targets from airborne threats. While Airbus Defence and Space contributes its combat-proven Command and Control (C2) solutions – a trusted, battle-proven architecture – to this product range, Diehl Defence is responsible for the overall GBAD system which includes effectors and launchers. Based on that experience, Diehl Defence and Airbus Defence and Space intend to identify potentials for product enhancements, providing customers with better capabilities and improved agility of their joint products. One possible way to achieve these objectives is the founding of a commonly used “battle lab” development environment. By integrating these next-generation C2 layers and capabilities with Diehl Defence’s field-proven effectors, the partnership aims to anchor a resilient, fully networked defensive shield capable of scaling seamlessly to meet evolving NATO and ESSI requirements. Developed in close collaboration with the German Armed Forces, the IBMS leverages decades of expertise in Command & Control and networking, making it a trusted choice for European customers. Its combat-proven performance within the IRIS-T SLM/SLS system in Ukraine validates the effectiveness of the common solutions. Building on this successful partnership, numerous nations – including Germany, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland – have now adopted these GBAD solutions. Airbus and Quantum Systems to cooperate on counter UAS interceptors on military helicopters: Airbus Helicopters and Quantum Systems have signed a cooperation agreement at ILA Berlin 2026 to jointly explore the integration of advanced counter-UAS (C-UAS) interceptors of Quantum Systems capabilities onto Airbus’ military helicopters, beginning with the multi-role H145M. This strategic partnership builds upon a shared commitment to enhancing Europe’s defence ecosystem and providing armed forces with agile, combat-ready solutions to counter modern, asymmetric airborne threats. “At Airbus Helicopters, we are constantly exploring new frontiers in mission capabilities to bring real, decisive value to our customers. This agreement with Quantum Systems marks a crucial step forward in further expanding the operational spectrum of our military helicopters, ensuring that crews can effectively control the airspace against uncrewed threats. The H145M, with its advanced open system architecture and exceptional growth potential, serves as the ideal launching pad for this joint initiative. By combining our broad military helicopter portfolio with innovative C-UAS solutions, we are protecting personnel and assets as well as reinforcing European technological sovereignty and defence capabilities,” said Stefan Thomé, Executive Vice President Programmes at Airbus Helicopters. “This cooperation demonstrates how Europe’s defence industry can combine complementary strengths to address emerging operational challenges. Together, Airbus and Quantum Systems are advancing the integration of crewed and uncrewed capabilities to build a more resilient and effective defence ecosystem. As a deep-tech prime for the unmanned era, our ambition is to support armed forces to gain a decisive technological advantage against increasingly sophisticated airborne threats. Current developments show that aerial systems need answers to drone threats,” said Martin Karkour, Chief Revenue Office at Quantum Systems. Airbus Helicopters has introduced an uncrewed version of the H145 family of helicopters, the U145, at ILA Berlin. On Airbus’ static display the U145 mockup already features Quantum Systems’ advanced C-UAS solution. Airbus Defence and Space signs space intelligence MoU: Airbus Defence and Space has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rohde & Schwarz, constellr, Orbint and High Performance Space Structure Systems (HPS) to collaborate on a satellite-based Earth observation and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) solution. Led by Airbus as prime contractor and system integrator, the consortium brings together five complementary German specialists to address growing governmental demand for sovereign, end-to-end space-based surveillance capabilities, independent of non-European dependencies. “Europe has the talent, the technology, and the industrial base to build its own space intelligence infrastructure and the strategic imperative to do so,” said Mike Schöllhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. “This consortium brings together five German companies whose capabilities are genuinely complementary. Together we can deliver a sovereign, end-to-end solution that no single company could offer alone.” “This partnership demonstrates the value of combining the proven expertise of established players with fresh innovation and highly specialized emerging capabilities into operational value for our customers,” said Thomas Bohne, Vice President SIGINT / EW, Rohde & Schwarz. “Rohde & Schwarz has built its reputation on world-class RF technology and mission-critical signal intelligence capabilities. We are committed to working with innovative technology players who bring new perspectives and complementary expertise. Together, we can help shape a sovereign European ISR capability that is technologically strong, resilient, and independent.” The five partners combine complementary capabilities across the full intelligence chain, and proven expertise along every stage of modern Earth observation and ISR. Airbus is responsible for overall mission and system architecture, end-to-end integration, programme management, and the customer interface. The consortium’s formation reflects a growing recognition across European governments and defence institutions that strategic autonomy requires indigenous space intelligence capabilities. With all five companies headquartered in Germany, the partnership represents a concentrated national industrial response to that demand and a concrete step towards a European sovereign ISR architecture. The parties have started their collaboration on a non-exclusive basis. Airbus awarded contract for Copernicus Sentinel-1 NG radar instruments: Airbus has signed a landmark €345 million contract with industrial prime contractor Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture of Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). This agreement secures the development and production of two advanced C-band radar instruments for the upcoming Sentinel-1 NG constellation, a cornerstone of the EU’s Copernicus programme. These advanced C-band radars will generate essential data for the global fight against climate change, providing millimetre-level accuracy to monitor sea-level rise, glacier movements, and land deformation. Unlike optical sensors, SAR technology operates effectively through cloud cover and in total darkness, ensuring continuous, 24/7 all-weather monitoring over both land and open ocean. The next-generation radars represent a significant leap in Earth observation capability. Compared to the first-generation Sentinel-1, the NG constellation will feature modes with a much wider swath (400 km vs. 250 km) and a fourfold improvement in geometric resolution (5m x 5m vs. 5m x 20m). Furthermore, the new generation will extend its coverage to both poles, utilising advanced active beam steering through Multiple Aperture Processing Scheme (MAPS) technology. Airbus will manufacture and test the overall C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) at its facility in Friedrichshafen, Germany. While Thales Alenia Space Italia plays a major role in the SAR development providing the SAR electronics subsystem and T/R modules to Airbus, Airbus’ scope extends far beyond the radar itself. Airbus is also responsible for the spacecraft’s mechanical, thermal, and propulsion subsystems, as well as critical mission performance engineering. The satellite will be based on Thales Alenia Space’s MILA platform, already used for other Copernicus missions such as CHIME, ROSE-L and CIMR. Thales Alenia Space will be responsible in particular for the assembly, integration and tests activities related to the two satellites. Airbus and Alta Ares sign deal for Europe’s air defence solutions: Airbus Defence and Space and Alta Ares, a European defence technology company specialised in counter-drone systems and on-board artificial intelligence, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on the development and integration of European counter-drone solutions. “Against the current geopolitical backdrop, defending against suicide drones is a priority that urgently needs to be tackled and integrated into our broader air defence solutions,” said François Lombard, Head of Connected Intelligence, Airbus Defence and Space. “Our counter-drone strategy aims to provide armed forces with cost-efficient and cutting-edge solutions, which can be fully integrated in the air defence ecosystem. To protect Europe and its allies, it is crucial to fill this capability challenge in today’s asymmetric conflict theatres.” Both companies are dedicated to accelerating the deployment of resilient, next-generation air defence solutions. By combining Airbus’ system and software integration expertise with Alta Ares’ battlefield-proven AI-powered tactical air defence, the partnership will deliver next-level air superiority. Alta Ares’ counter-drone systems have been operationally deployed in Ukraine since 2024. As an integrator, Airbus Defence and Space will leverage Fortion IBMS (Integrated Battle Management Software), its combat-proven Command & Control (C2) solution, and Fortion SAMOC suite, its surface-to-air missile operation centre solution designed to counter threats from various effectors and missiles. As a capability provider, Alta Ares deploys its integrated conter-UAS solutions and offers a new tactical air defence layer thanks to a combination of software and hardware solutions.In addition, Alta Ares –alongside Airbus – will continue the development and deployment of the Black Bird, a medium-range (30 km) interceptor engineered for high-speed targets like cruise missiles, and the X-Lock, a short-range (15 km) system designed to counter drone threats. Airbus and SkyFall form strategic alliance: Airbus Defence and Space and leading Ukrainian technological defence company SkyFall signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a strategic partnersh ip. As a drone pioneer, SkyFall combines rapid prototyping with serial manufacturing to deliver advanced unmanned aerial systems for combat missions, logistics, and military reconnaissance. The signing took place in the presence of German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius. The partnership reinforces the protection of Ukraine’s airspace against drone and missile strikes and strengthens Ukraine as a leading European centre for defence innovation. The initiative will accelerate the European defence ecosystem by combining extensive Western systemic defence expertise with battle-proven technological agility and effectiveness to foster next-generation defence frameworks. “Countering new threats by affordable saturation attacks with drones and other effectors across the European airspace requires technological agility, multinational interoperability, and the deployment of battle-tested capabilities,” said Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. “This alliance with SkyFall bridges the gap between traditional defence systems and rapid-cycle innovation. Combining Airbus’ system-of-systems and C2-expertise – especially in integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) – with Ukraine’s invaluable combat insights and field-proven technologies, is another building block in creating a resilient, multi-layered air defence ecosystem – at the speed of the modern battlefield.” The joint initiative directly supports the overarching goals of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), Europe’s joint air defence framework, and underscores the vital importance of European technological sovereignty. Furthermore, the alliance strengthens collective deterrence and long-term industrial solidarity by bringing advanced Ukrainian defence technologies to the European market. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]