Airbus UpNext

Developing future technologies today

Airbus Upnext eXtra Performance Wing demonstrator First Flight

Pioneering the future of flight

INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

Airbus UpNext focuses on developing future technologies at speeds well beyond what seems feasible today. This Airbus subsidiary is actively shaping the future of the aerospace industry.


Airbus UpNext uses its demonstrators to develop, evaluate, mature and validate concepts, products and services that will permit potential radical technological breakthroughs. Each demonstrator has a two- to three-year time frame to deliver results. The Airbus subsidiary has three locations in France, Germany and Spain, each contributing to the rapid development and testing of future technologies in scaled applications.


Its mission is:
- To identify disruptive aerospace trends and technology concepts  and evaluate their potential as viable products.
- To test real-world applications for emerging aerospace technologies.
- To further accelerate traditional research cycles, developing proof of concept and completing both ground and flight testing with scale and speed. 
 

Current projects

Cryoprop

Cryoprop is a new technological demonstrator to accelerate the maturation of superconducting technologies for use in the electric propulsion systems of a future hydrogen-powered aircraft.

Learn more
Launch of the Cryoprop project

eXtra Performance Wing

This demonstrator is focused on testing and validating wing technologies that will improve and optimise aerodynamics and performance for any future aircraft.

Learn more
 Extra performance Wing UpNext takes off for the first time

HyPower

The HyPower demonstrator for non-propulsive energy uses a hydrogen fuel cell to power an aircraft’s auxiliary power unit (APU). The cell will be tested on the ground.

Learn more
Airbus Vertex First Flight
Airbus UpNext Optimate

Optimate

Current projects

The Optimate demonstrator is testing new technologies to support automatic taxiing and enhance pilot assistance at airports. Launched in 2024, the three-year research project combines a wide range of cutting-edge technologies that are being tested onboard an innovative electric truck. A fully automated gate-to-gate mission will eventually be performed on an A350 flight test aircraft.

Success stories

ASCEND

This demonstrator focused on testing cryogenic and superconducting technologies to significantly boost the performance of electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems.

Learn more
The Airbus ASCEND demonstrator

Blue Condor

This modified glider flew at up to 33,000 feet to analyse hydrogen combustion’s impact on contrail properties.

Learn more
Airbus Blue Condor

fello'fly

This flight demonstrator project proved the technical, operational and economic viability of wake-energy retrieval for commercial aircraft.

Learn more
Airbus fello'fly first flight
Auto'Mate first flight

Auto’Mate

Success stories

This demonstrator develops, adapts and evaluates technologies that enable autonomous air-to-air refuelling in formation flight operations. It consists of flight testing three key technologies – accurate relative navigation, in-flight communication and a cooperative control algorithm – that could contribute to future autonomous air-to-air refuelling.

Other success stories

VERTEX

This project investigated simplified mission preparation and control for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft to reduce pilot workload. The test platform was Airbus Helicopters’ Flightlab.

Read more
Vertex in flight Airbus Helicopters

Airbus UpNext DragonFly demonstrator

This demonstrator explored new pilot assistance technologies to further enhance flight safety and aircraft operational efficiency.

Read more
Airbus DragonFly Demonstrator

The latest from Airbus UpNext

In the spotlight