The Defense and Space division of Airbus has definitively closed the acquisition of the French cybersecurity firm Quarkslab, once the necessary regulatory approvals were obtained, the company reported this Thursday in a statement.
The operation represents a "further step" within the group's roadmap to establish itself as a reference and sovereign partner for French authorities, while also strengthening its position in the European cybersecurity ecosystem.
Quarkslab, founded in 2011, is a private company specialized in cybersecurity that has around 100 professionals and concentrates its activity mainly in Paris and Rennes.
Since 2020, it has been backed by the global alternative asset manager Tikehau Capital and provides cybersecurity solutions aimed at helping organizations protect users, strategic assets, and sensitive information against cyberattacks.
Advanced software protection against AI threats
Its "star" product, 'QShield', a comprehensive solution for software providers, protects software against artificial intelligence (AI) threats while safeguarding data and code. The solution also protects peripheral components and prevents them from being reverse-engineered by attackers or AI, especially in the defense and aerospace sectors.
The connected intelligence director of Airbus Defence and Space, François Lombard, stated that the Quarkslab team and "its extensive experience will be integrated into the rapidly growing cybersecurity activities of Airbus Defence and Space, thus reinforcing the presence of a resilient and sovereign cyber actor in France and across Europe."
"This acquisition strengthens our ability to build the digital shield necessary to help our home countries and our allies stay at the forefront of cybersecurity," he added.
Airbus explained that thanks to the "extensive" experience of its internal team 'QLab' and the 'QShield' platform, Quarkslab offers "tailored protection for government and commercial clients against increasingly sophisticated attacks." "Its cybersecurity engineers and developers bridge the gap between academic research and practical application to foster innovation," it explained.
Thus, the French company, which was already collaborating as a supplier and partner of Airbus, will strengthen the sovereign cybersecurity capabilities that the group already has in France. This purchase adds to the acquisition of Infodas in Germany in 2024 and that of Ultra Cyber in the United Kingdom in March 2026.
Airbus Defence and Space has a pan-European presence in the field of cybersecurity in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Finland, and provides governments, armed forces, and institutions with specialized sovereign knowledge and critical digital protection services.