Berlin, Germany, 11 June 2026 – Airbus Defence and Space has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Alta Ares, a European defense technology company reputed for its counter-drone systems and onboard artificial intelligence, to collaborate on the advancement and integration of counter-drone solutions for Europe.
François Lombard, Head of Connected Intelligence at Airbus Defence and Space, emphasized the urgency of fortifying defenses against suicide drones within the current geopolitical climate. “Defending against these threats is a priority that must be integrated into our broader air defense solutions. Our counter-drone strategy focuses on delivering armed forces cost-efficient, pioneering solutions that can seamlessly fit into the air defense ecosystem. It is vital to address this capability gap, particularly in today’s asymmetric conflict environments,” he stated.
The collaboration aims to accelerate the rollout of next-generation air defense solutions, combining Airbus’ expertise in system and software integration with Alta Ares’ battlefield-proven, AI-driven tactical air defense capabilities. Notably, Alta Ares’ counter-drone systems have been actively deployed in Ukraine since 2024.
Hadrien Canter, Co-Founder and CEO of Alta Ares, remarked on the dual nature of modern air defense: “It’s neither a software issue nor a hardware issue; it encompasses both simultaneously and at scale. By integrating Pixel Lock with our interceptors into the Fortion IBMS, we provide operators with a unified sensor-to-shooter chain from detection to neutralization, which is exactly what theater commanders are requesting.”
As a system integrator, Airbus Defence and Space will utilize Fortion IBMS (Integrated Battle Management Software), its combat-tested Command & Control (C2) solution, along with the Fortion SAMOC suite, designed for surface-to-air missile operations against a variety of threats.
On its part, Alta Ares will provide its integrated counter-UAS solutions, establishing a new tactical air defense layer through a blend of software and hardware. Furthermore, in collaboration with Airbus, Alta Ares will advance the Black Bird, a medium-range interceptor with a range of 30 km designed to engage high-speed targets like cruise missiles, and the X-Lock, a short-range system with a 15 km range targeted at drone threats.
The integration of these innovative solutions into Airbus’ air defense battle management suite IBMS enhances operational effectiveness and contributes to the establishment of a fully integrated ecosystem of air defense solutions across Europe.
Source: Airbus Defence and Space (2026-06-10)
