Airbus UpNext
Developing future technologies today
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.
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.
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.
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.
Blue Condor
This modified glider flew at up to 33,000 feet to analyse hydrogen combustion’s impact on contrail properties.
fello'fly
This flight demonstrator project proved the technical, operational and economic viability of wake-energy retrieval for commercial aircraft.
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.
Airbus UpNext DragonFly demonstrator
This demonstrator explored new pilot assistance technologies to further enhance flight safety and aircraft operational efficiency.
The latest from Airbus UpNext
In the spotlight
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News Space
Airbus and partners demonstrate very high speed optical link between Earth and Space
CNES and Airbus prove that massive, rapid ground to space data transfer is possible with TELEO succesful tests -
Press releases Innovation
Airbus and Toshiba to partner on superconductivity research
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Press releases Innovation
Airbus takes superconductivity research for hydrogen-powered aircraft a step further
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Press releases Innovation
New pilot assistance technologies take to the road with Airbus' Optimate demonstrator
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Stories Innovation
Meet Optimate, an extra pair of eyes and ears for pilots
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Airbus NOVA Newsletter
Your go-to source for the latest stories on disruptive technologies and ground-breaking aerospace projects that will transform the way we fly.
