The helicopter division of Airbus and the German surveillance drone company Quantum Systems have signed a cooperation agreement during the ILA Berlin (Germany) 2026 fair with the aim of jointly analyzing the incorporation of Quantum Systems' interceptors against UAS or drones (C-UAS) into Airbus's military helicopters, taking the multipurpose H145M model as a starting point.
As Airbus explained in a statement released this Wednesday, this collaboration stems from a common commitment to strengthen the European defense ecosystem and to provide armed forces with agile, combat-ready solutions adapted to counter modern and asymmetric aerial threats.
The executive vice president of programs at Airbus Helicopters, Stefan Thomé, stated that this division "constantly explores new frontiers in mission capabilities to bring real and decisive value to its customers."
In this regard, he highlighted that "this agreement with Quantum Systems represents a crucial step in further expanding the operational spectrum of our military helicopters, ensuring that crews can effectively control the airspace against unmanned threats," emphasizing that the H145M, thanks to its open-system architecture and growth margin, acts as an "ideal launch platform for this joint initiative."
The executive added that by combining their range of military helicopters with "innovative" C-UAS solutions, they "protect personnel and assets, while strengthening European technological sovereignty and defense capabilities." For his part, the chief revenue officer of Quantum Systems, Martin Karkour, pointed out that this alliance highlights "how the European defense industry can combine complementary strengths to address emerging operational challenges."
"Together, Airbus and Quantum Systems are driving the integration of manned and unmanned capabilities to build a more resilient and effective defense ecosystem," the executive highlighted, emphasizing that their "ambition is to help armed forces gain a decisive technological advantage against increasingly sophisticated aerial threats."