Company profile
Airbus UpNext
Airbus UpNext develops flight demonstrators for future aerospace technologies. Its work includes autonomous flight, cooperative control and automated air-t...
Facts
- Segment
- AERIAL
- Country
- France
- Headquarters
- Blagnac, Occitanie
- Founded
- 2017
- Website
- https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/innovation-ecosystem/airbus-upnext
About Airbus UpNext
Airbus UpNext builds flight demonstrators that test emerging aerospace technologies under real operating conditions. Its programmes cover autonomous flight, cooperative control, navigation, propulsion and automated air-to-air refuelling, using modified aircraft and uncrewed systems to validate concepts before they enter mainstream Airbus development.
Demonstrators bring together sensors, flight computers, communications and control algorithms on compressed schedules, generating evidence about technical performance and operational use. Projects have explored autonomous helicopter operations and coordination between tanker aircraft and drones. Airbus UpNext operates as an innovation unit within Airbus, transferring mature results into civil and defence product teams.
Market context
RESEARCH
Summary
Type: Aerospace R&D
Core: Flight demos
Function: Autonomy
Audience: Defense
Research, Articles and recent verified events
- Airbus UpNext starts Optimate automatic taxiing and pilot-assistance testing — 2024-05-21
- Airbus UpNext eXtra Performance Wing demonstrator makes first flight — 2023-11-08
- Airbus UpNext achieves autonomous guidance and control of drone from tanker aircraft — 2023-03-28
- Airbus UpNext starts DragonFly autonomous pilot-assistance flight tests — 2023-01-12