Sovereign defence systems and civil aviation innovation: Airbus at ILA 2026

Serving as a window into aerospace innovation, the ILA Berlin Air Show gathers the industry, civil and military operators, and sector pioneers to address the twin imperatives of technological transformation and strategic resilience. 

As Europe's premier aerospace meeting point, ILA 2026 provides a stage for Airbus to demonstrate its commitment to decarbonisation in aviation while enabling European defence readiness.  

Advanced defence platforms and security solutions

In a shifting geopolitical landscape, the erosion of long-standing dependencies has elevated strategic autonomy from a theoretical concept to an urgent operational necessity. Airbus plays an essential role in supporting Europe’s defence objectives while acting as a vital strategic partner for Germany.

From the Eurofighter protecting  airspace and the SatcomBw satellite system for mission critical communication, to the H225 and NH90 helicopter enabling advanced security missions and troop mobility, the Airbus technologies on display at ILA support the German Armed Forces, the federal police and emergency medical services across the country.

The Company is progressively enhancing platforms including  the A400M, H145M and A330 MRTT with advanced capabilities, alongside developing next-generation derivatives for maritime patrol and electronic warfare. This evolving portfolio is engineered to be ready for a future combat air system, creating a collaborative ‘system of systems’ environment where assets plug into a unified digital network. 

ILA 2026 - Before the Opening

The rise of uncrewed aerial systems

Alongside fixed-wing and rotorcraft development, Airbus is establishing itself as a leader in Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). Visitors at ILA will see:

• Eurodrone: Designed for long-endurance strategic intelligence missions.
• Capa-X, Flexrotor and Aliaca: Highly agile tactical uncrewed assets.
• U145: The latest uncrewed rotorcraft variant optimised for logistics operations.
• Bird of Prey: A rapid, cost-effective interceptor drone developed to neutralise modern aerial threats.

Read more: Airbus presents broadest European drone portfolio at ILA

U145

Crewed-uncrewed teaming and collaborative combat

The AI revolution is expanding real-time decision-making capabilities. At the ILA static display, Airbus is showcasing its vision for collaborative combat with a Tactical Operating Centre, demonstrating how interoperable platforms allow European forces to operate seamlessly in contested environments.

To support this new era of defence, Airbus is deploying software-based, platform-agnostic systems that enable multi-domain operations. These AI-supported solutions offer capabilities that extend far beyond traditional connectivity. 

A prime example of this is crewed-uncrewed teaming, which seamlessly connects rotorcraft such as the H145M with tactical UAS platforms through the Company’s H-Teaming solution. The continuous development of this connectivity technology allows crewed helicopters to act as a flying command post and a vital node in secure data networks. 

In the fixed-wing segment, Airbus uses the flight-tested Valkyrie platform equipped with the Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) Mission System. This will allow the Company to offer an operational, sovereign uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (UCCA) with air-to-ground capabilities by 2029. Airbus will network this uncrewed asset with the Eurofighter to form a powerful crewed-uncrewed team for the German Air Force. 

During the airshow, the Company is also introducing the new U145 – the autonomous, uncrewed version of the tried-and-tested H145 helicopter – and the U760 Ravenstorm combat drone. This will be a higher-weight-class European UCCA platform designed to operate alongside fighter pilots in air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes and electronic warfare. 
 

ILA 2026 - Before the Opening

Space superiority and sovereign orbital capabilities

Space is a critical domain for modern military operations, from secure communications to information superiority. 

At the Space pavilion, Airbus is showcasing its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation capabilities and advanced Satcom solutions, to keep armed forces connected in the most contested environment. Alongside these networks, Airbus Earth Observation and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) solutions including Pléiades Neo and the radar/optical S250 platforms, deliver the real-time situational awareness required for decisive tactical action.

Airbus will also  highlight Germany's leading role in space exploration. This includes the European Space Agency’s (ESA) European Service Module (ESM) powering NASA’s Artemis lunar missions, and Starlab, the future commercial space station.

3 x MetOp-SG illuminated in the cleanroom in Friedrichshafen

The decarbonisation journey and future mobility

Airbus innovation at ILA highlights how the future of civil aviation relies on lower-carbon emissions and digital transformation. Visitors can explore these breakthrough capabilities through live demonstrations and interactive exhibits:

• Aerial displays: The high-speed Racer helicopter demonstrator, optimised for a cruise speed of more than 400 km/h and targeting a fuel consumption reduction of around 25%, will take part in the flying display alongside the widebody A350.
• PioneerLab: This twin-engine helicopter laboratory will also be on display, showcasing a modified aerodynamic configuration aimed to improve flight performance, increased stability, and handling qualities.
• Advanced research: The main Airbus exhibition stand features the Wing of the Future foldable wing design, alongside weight-reduction technologies incorporating recycled titanium and additive- manufactured parts.
• Propulsion systems: Exhibits explore the evolution of mobility through hybridisation and hydrogen. This features a fuel cell mock-up converting hydrogen into electricity with only water as a by-product, aiming for lower-carbon emissions.
• Quantum navigation: A dedicated demonstration showcases how innovative quantum sensors read the magnetic field in the Earth’s crust. This advanced navigation technology provides a highly accurate, spoofing and jamming-resistant companion to traditional satellite-based navigation systems.
• For the shop floor: Airbus’ ‘Future Factory’ exhibit demonstrates how human operators are assisted by co-bots, predictive design tools and simulated digital layers that streamline manufacturing and maintenance planning.

ILA 2026 - Before the Opening

Experience ILA Berlin 2026 firsthand

Want to see these aerospace innovations in person and experience the future of defence and civil aviation at the ILA Berlin Air Show, which opens to the public from 12 to 14 June? 

Visit the Airbus pavilion and static display to see the world’s most advanced aircraft, including the Airbus BelugaXL large transport aircraft, helicopters and uncrewed systems up close. Witness these cutting-edge capabilities in action during the official aerial displays and hear directly from our experts during insight-driven panel discussions across the official ILA Stages. 

ILA 2024 - Beluga arrival