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Airbus Defence and Space Weapon Systems

Airbus Defence and Space is the Airbus SE division for military aircraft, uncrewed systems, military space, and secure communications, formed in 2014 from Cassidian, Astrium, and Airbus Military.

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Airbus Defence and Space is Airbus's defence-and-space division, created in 2014 when Airbus combined the former Cassidian, Astrium, and Airbus Military businesses into one operating unit. The division sits inside Airbus SE and is the part of the group most relevant to cataloged military aircraft, UAS, and space systems.

Its public portfolio today spans military aircraft, uncrewed aerial systems, military space, connectivity, and intelligence products. That makes it the builder context for catalog entries such as Panavia Tornado and other Airbus-linked defence systems.

Military aircraftUncrewed aerial systemsMilitary spaceSecure communicationsIntelligence and data

Notable Systems

Eurofighter Typhoon

Airbus's defence page lists the Eurofighter Typhoon in its military-aircraft portfolio.

Sources: Airbus Defence page

A400M

Airbus's defence page includes the A400M as part of its military-aircraft portfolio.

Sources: Airbus Defence page

C295

Airbus's defence page lists the C295 tactical transport aircraft in its portfolio.

Sources: Airbus Defence page

A330 MRTT

Airbus's defence page includes the A330 MRTT refuelling tanker in its military-aircraft portfolio.

Sources: Airbus Defence page

Eurodrone

Airbus's defence page identifies Eurodrone as a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS under development.

Sources: Airbus Defence page

Sirtap

Airbus's defence page lists Sirtap as its tactical unmanned aerial system programme.

Sources: Airbus Defence page

Panavia Tornado

Airbus history material traces the defence lineage that later became Airbus Defence and Space through the earlier military-aircraft, space, and defence divisions.

Sources: Airbus history page, Airbus Defence and Space formation press release

Builder History

  1. Military Aircraft division created

    Airbus history states that a Military Aircraft division was created in 1999 as part of the company's defence lineage.

    Sources: Airbus history page

  2. Space division created

    Airbus history notes that a Space division was created in 2000 before later being merged into Airbus Defence and Space.

    Sources: Airbus history page

  3. Defence division created

    Airbus history records the creation of a Defence division in 2003, which later fed into the Airbus Defence and Space merger.

    Sources: Airbus history page

  4. Airbus Defence and Space formed

    Airbus announced that Airbus Defence and Space was formed by combining Cassidian, Astrium, and Airbus Military, with the new division going live in 2014.

    Sources: Airbus Defence and Space formation press release, Airbus history page

  5. New organisation took effect

    Airbus said a new Airbus Defence and Space organisation would come into effect on 1 July 2025 after completing consultation processes.

    Sources: Airbus Defence and Space reorganisation press release

Predecessors
CassidianAstriumAirbus Military
Website links
Official defence portfolioAirbus historyAirbus contact page

Airbus public materials mix Defence and Defense spellings across current and historical pages; aliases preserve both variants for search and canonical matching.

Builder Sources

  • Airbus Defence pagePublisher: Airbus | Note: Supports the current defence portfolio, including military aircraft, UAS, military space, connectivity, and intelligence products. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Airbus history pagePublisher: Airbus | Note: Supports the 1999, 2000, and 2003 division milestones and the 2014 merger history that led to Airbus Defence and Space. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Airbus Defence and Space formation press releasePublisher: Airbus | Note: Supports the Airbus Defense and Space division description, merger background, and the direct Airbus Defense and Space naming variant used in 2014 coverage. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Airbus Defence and Space reorganisation press releasePublisher: Airbus | Note: Supports the 1 July 2025 organisation change for Airbus Defence and Space. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Airbus contact pagePublisher: Airbus | Note: Supports the presence of Airbus Defence and Space operating sites in France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Commons JUICE Astrolabe facilities photoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a CC BY-SA 4.0 photograph showing JUICE inside Airbus Defence and Space's Astrolabe facilities in Toulouse. | Accessed: 2026-06-21

Category

Aircraft & UAVs

Crewed aircraft, drones, and loitering munitions.

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Panavia Tornado, Twin-engine variable-sweep wing multirole strike aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsYemen Civil WarPanavia TornadoTwin-engine variable-sweep wing multirole strike aircraftBuilt in: Germany, United Kingdom, and ItalyThe Panavia Tornado is a European twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft built by a UK-German-Italian consortium for low-level strike, interdiction, reconnaissance, and air-defense variants. In the Yemen Civil War, Royal Saudi Air Force Tornados formed part of the Saudi-led coalition's air campaign, with direct reporting documenting a Tornado on a close-air-support mission in al-Jawf in February 2020.