European aerospace group: commercial aircraft, helicopters, defence systems, satellites and space technology
Airbus SE
Blagnac (FR) · Leiden (NL) · Bremen (DE) · Friedrichshafen (DE) · Taufkirchen/Ottobrunn (DE) · Manching (DE) · Hamburg (DE) · Augsburg (DE) · Dresden (DE) · Donauwörth (DE) · Getafe (ES) · ToulouseNew on Amplifa
About Airbus
Airbus SE is a European aerospace group with products and services for the commercial aircraft, helicopter, defence and space sectors. The group manufactures commercial aircraft (A220, A320, A330, A350, A380, A350F), helicopters (including H125, H135, H145, H160M, H225M) as well as military aviation systems such as the Eurofighter Typhoon. In the Space sector, Airbus develops and manufactures satellites (including MetOp, Sentinel, TerraSAR-X, Galileo G2), solar generators, avionics, spacecraft modules such as the Orion European Service Module, as well as structures for launch vehicles. Manufacturing uses, among others, aluminium, CFRP and thermoplastic polymers; for future aircraft structures, Airbus is researching bio-based resins, biomass carbon fibres and natural fibres. In Germany, sites are located in Bremen, Hamburg, Friedrichshafen, Ottobrunn/Taufkirchen, Manching, Donauwörth, Augsburg and Dresden. The headquarters is located in Blagnac (France), and the legal seat of Airbus SE is in Leiden (Netherlands).
- Site
- Blagnac Cedex
- Processes
- Manufacture of solar generators for satellites, Satellite integration and testing (Galileo G2, MetOp, Sentinel), Manufacture of space electronics and avionics (on-board computers, PPU, sensors, actuators), Manufacture of launch vehicle structures (interstages, engine frames), Manufacture of thermal straps (HiPeR Flexlinks), Manufacture of commercial aircraft (A220, A320, A330, A350, A380, A350F), Manufacture of helicopters (H125, H130, H135, H145, H160M, H225M), Research on fibre composite and thermoplastic fuselage production (MFFD, target rate 60–100
- Materials
- Thermoplastic polymers, Biomass carbon fibre (e.g. from algae), Bio-sourced resins (furan, epoxy, polyamide), Natural fibres, Aluminium, Carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP), Lithium-ion battery technology
- Founded
- 2000
- Employees
- 157.000
- Industries
- Commercial Aviation, Helicopters, Defence, Space, Security
- 01
Engineering and design
- 02
Parts and structure production
- 03
Satellite and aircraft integration
- 04
System test and qualification
- 05
Delivery and service (MRO, training, spare parts)
Materials and Processes
Aluminium
Metallic lightweight material for aircraft structures; research focus on circularity and recycling.
Carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP)
Fibre composite material for fuselage and structural components of modern aircraft types and satellite panels.
Thermoplastic polymers
Can be produced with lower energy intensity and are recyclable; research on thermoplastic fuselage production in the MFFD demonstrator.
Biomass carbon fibre (e.g. from algae)
Alternative carbon fibre precursor made from biomass instead of oil-based precursors.
Bio-sourced resins (furan, epoxy, polyamide)
Resin class with biological monomers as a possible alternative to phenolic resins in aircraft construction.
Natural fibres
Lightweight, high-strength fibres for secondary, non-critical aircraft structures.
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacture of solar generators for satellitesAssembly | – | Span width up to 40 metres | maximum 145 kilograms | – | Solar cells, Carbon fibre panels |
| Satellite integration and testing (Galileo G2, MetOp, Sentinel)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of space electronics and avionics (on-board computers, PPU, sensors, actuators)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of launch vehicle structures (interstages, engine frames)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of thermal straps (HiPeR Flexlinks)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of commercial aircraft (A220, A320, A330, A350, A380, A350F)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Carbon fibre reinforced polymers, Aluminium, Thermoplastics |
| Manufacture of helicopters (H125, H130, H135, H145, H160M, H225M)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Research on fibre composite and thermoplastic fuselage production (MFFD, target rate 60–100Engineering | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastic polymers, Biomass carbon fibre, Bio-sourced resins (furan, epoxy, polyamide), Natural fibres |
4 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean room for optical satellite integration | Airbus | – | largest clean room of its kind in Germany | – | Ottobrunn/Taufkirchen |
| Clean room "Optical Instruments" | Airbus | – | – | – | Ottobrunn/Taufkirchen |
| Automated photovoltaic assembly with 3,500 m² clean room | Airbus | – | 3,500 m² | – | Ottobrunn |
| Clean room (solar generator manufacturing) | Airbus | – | – | – | Ottobrunn/Taufkirchen |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 1970
Founding of the Airbus Industrie GIE consortium
- 1972
First flight of the A300B1 (28 October)
- 2000
Founding of EADS through the merger of DASA, Aérospatiale-Matra and CASA (10 July)
- 2013/14
Rebranding of the group; adoption of the Airbus name
- 2014
Merging of the Space and Defence divisions into Airbus Defence and Space
- 2015
EADS operates as Airbus SE; A350 entry-into-service