“We are competitors that have to marry.” Airbus on FCAS, Paris Air Show 2025

At the 2025 Paris Air Show, Airbus used its defense media briefing to reaffirm its commitment to multirole military platforms, next-generation connectivity, and greater European cooperation amid growing geopolitical pressures.  

Senior Airbus executives presented updates on key programs spanning airlift, refueling, drones, and satellites, with a strong emphasis on system integration and the urgency of these efforts in light of ongoing global conflicts. 

A400M: From heavy lifter to data hub and drone mothership 

The Airbus A400M tactical display at Paris Air Show 2025 (AeroTime)Airbus’ Head of Military Air Systems, Jean-Brice Dumont, said the company had signed a new agreement with OCCAR to secure long-term A400M commitments. While originally designed as a tactical airlifter, the A400M is evolving into a multi-role platform with ambitions to support ISR, electronic warfare, and drone operations. 

“One customer recently told me that the A400M was one of its best military data sources; it has become a data collector,” Dumont explained. 

With future upgrades, the A400M could deploy up to 50 small UAVs or 12 larger drones, supported by a payload increase to 40 tons. When equipped with the right sensors and connectivity, it could also act as a central component in a wider system-of-systems approach to air operations. 

A330 MRTT+: Airbus studies increased output to meet demand 

The A330 MRTT+, Airbus’ upgraded Multi Role Tanker Transport, is now in production for an undisclosed customer. Delivery of the first unit is scheduled for late 2028.  

It will feature new command and control (C2C) capabilities, opening its potential to participate in the FCAS ‘system of systems’ much like the A400M. Airbus is also exploring ways to increase its current production rate of four to five aircraft per year, driven by rising demand. 

FCAS and NGWS: Addressing tensions with Dassault 

On the Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS), which forms the core of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program with Dassault Aviation and other partners, Dumont said Airbus is nearing the end of Phase 1B. He acknowledged delays and inefficiencies in cooperation and called for faster progress. 

“There was no pressing war in 2017 when the program was initiated,” Dumont said, stressing the need to simplify cooperation frameworks and speed up development of both manned fighters and remote carriers. The executive also emphasized the need for precise political alignment and harmonized technical requirements to prevent future slowdowns. 

While recognizing Dassault as the prime contractor for the fighter, Airbus reiterated its push for balanced contributions and a shared industrial path.  

“We are competitors that have to marry,” he added. 

A couple of hours before Airbus’ briefing, Dassault Aviation reiterated its dissatisfaction with the program’s structure. Speaking to Bloomberg Television at the Paris Air Show, CEO Éric Trappier said Dassault “may go it alone” if cooperation does not improve. 

Airbus, for its part, reiterated its full commitment to the FCAS and to building a stronger Europe of defense, but warned that the current setup, born in a different geopolitical era, must now adapt to meet the demands of a more contested world. 

Drone ecosystem: Eurodrone, SIRTAP, and Zephyr 

Airbus’ unmanned systems strategy continues to broaden, with several programs at different stages of maturity. 

The Eurodrone is expected to enter Phase 1B soon, with service entry still targeted by the end of the decade. Dumont said its relevance has grown in light of maritime and ISR needs exposed by the war in Ukraine. Interest has also come from India and Japan. 

The SIRTAP tactical UAV, developed for Spain, is set to be delivered by H1 2027, just four years after the contract was signed in late 2023. Dumont pointed to it as an example of efficient program execution. “It’s a success story. In four years, we go from contract to delivery. It shows what’s possible for a big company like Airbus when requirements are clear,” the executive said, framing it as a counterpoint to the Eurodrone and the FCAS. 

Airbus suggested its high-altitude Zephyr, which achieved a 64-day endurance flight, could be part of the FCAS to serve as the high-altitude component. Positioned as a quasi-satellite, its capabilities for data relay at stratospheric altitudes could help with the connectivity of the ‘system of systems’. 

“The very high altitude is a field where many are starting to play. No one was there not too long ago,” Dumont said. 

Efforts to improve UAV refueling and long-range connectivity were also mentioned as part of Airbus’ broader ambition to maintain a persistent drone presence in contested environments. 

Space and satellites: European capabilities, global aspirations 

Alain Faure, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, provided an update on the group’s growing portfolio of military and dual-use satellites.  

Airbus has noted a growing demand from government customers for space-based capabilities, particularly in imagery and secure communications, which is overtaking interest from commercial operators. Of the last 10 launches, seven were for governments, of which five are imagery satellites and two are dedicated to communications. 

The growing military relevance of space and high-altitude platforms was also reflected on the show floor. The French Ministry of Armed Forces dedicated a significant portion of its booth to the space domain. 

The CSO, a French observation satellite (AeroTime)The CSO-3 military observation satellite, part of France’s “Composante Spatiale Optique” program, was successfully launched on March 6, 2025, aboard an Ariane 6 rocket. It completed a trio of French high-resolution Earth observation satellites, enhancing France’s independent imagery capabilities. 

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Airbus is currently producing several Pléiades NEO high-resolution optical imagery satellites, capable of achieving a resolution of 20–30 cm. Two are being built for the Polish military, while others are intended for Airbus’ own commercial needs, enabling the company to offer proprietary satellite imagery services to its customers. 

The S250, a compact 50-kg class satellite designed to offer high revisit rates, is set for launch in July 2025 from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou. Fitted with either optical or radar sensors, it will serve as a complement to more advanced systems, such as Pléiades NEO, providing frequent updates to the data they collect. 

Looking ahead, Faure highlighted the strategic potential of low-Earth orbit constellations, citing Eutelsat-OneWeb as a key opportunity for both commercial and defense connectivity. 

Airbus calls for urgency and unity in European defense 

Both Dumont and Faure underlined the need for Europe to adapt to a changed security landscape. 

“Full independence from the US is a dream, but reducing dependency is necessary,” Dumont said.  

Faure added that Europe still suffers from fragmented budgets and programs, despite having all the technical skills to compete globally. The post “We are competitors that have to marry.” Airbus on FCAS, Paris Air Show 2025 appeared first on AeroTime.

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