Airbus Defence and Space

Headquarters

Ottobrunn/Taufkirchen, Germany

Founded

2014

Employees

~36,347 (2024, reported)

Total funding

Public

Stage

Public

Status

public

Domains

Space, Defense electronics, Satellite communications

No linked records yet.

No linked records yet.

Approximate ownership by holder. Indexed holders link to their records.

• ContractSATCOMBw 3 — German Armed Forces Secure Military Satellite CommunicationsPrime contract awarded to Airbus Defence and Space to design, build, and operate a next-generation secure military satellite communications system for the German Armed Forces.
• ContractNATO A330 MRTT Fleet ExpansionNSPA contract for two additional Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft, expanding the Multinational MRTT Fleet Unit to 12 aircraft.
• ContractEuropean Defence Fund — Four R&D Projects (Airbus-Coordinated)Airbus Defence and Space coordinated four European Defence Fund R&D projects awarded €40.7M in EU funding plus member-state co-financing.

• ProgramEurofighter TyphoonEurope's largest joint defence programme; Airbus Defence and Space is a core industrial partner alongside Leonardo and BAE Systems on the Eurofighter Typhoon multirole combat aircraft.
• ProgramA400M AtlasTactical/strategic military transport aircraft designed and built by Airbus Defence and Space.
• ProgramGalileoEU's global satellite navigation system; Airbus Defence and Space provides system expertise, and its subsidiary SSTL built all operational first-generation Galileo navigation payloads.

What does Airbus Defence and Space do?

Airbus Defence and Space is the defense and space division of Airbus, recipient of a €200M European Defence Fund award (Feb 2026) for secure military satellite communications. In October 2025, Airbus D&S signed a memorandum of understanding with Leonardo and Thales to combine their space businesses into a new joint venture (Airbus holding 35%, Leonardo and Thales 32.5% each), targeted to be operational in 2027. The division is led by CEO Michael Schoellhorn.

Where is Airbus Defence and Space headquartered?

Airbus Defence and Space is headquartered in Ottobrunn/Taufkirchen, Germany and was founded in 2014.

What does Airbus Defence and Space specialize in?

Airbus Defence and Space works across Space, Defense electronics, Satellite communications.

Does Airbus Defence and Space hold government contracts?

Defense Tech Atlas links Airbus Defence and Space to 3 government contracts and 3 programs.

Each claim links to its underlying source. Confidence reflects how directly the source supports the claim.