Airbus has agreed to acquire French cybersecurity firm Quarkslab, strengthening its sovereign cyber capabilities and expanding its European defence and digital security network.
Paris, 21 April 2026 – Airbus has entered into an agreement to acquire French cybersecurity firm Quarkslab, further strengthening its position as a sovereign cybersecurity provider across Europe.
The transaction, subject to regulatory approvals and consultation with social partners, is expected to close during 2026. The move marks Airbus’ second cybersecurity acquisition agreement within a month, underlining a clear strategic focus on expanding its digital security capabilities.
EXPANDING SOVEREIGN CYBER CAPABILITY
Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Paris, Quarkslab employs approximately 100 specialists across France. The company develops cybersecurity solutions designed to protect critical systems, software, and data from increasingly complex threats.
Its flagship platform, QShield, is aimed at safeguarding software providers against evolving risks, including AI-driven threats, reverse engineering, and attacks targeting sensitive code and edge systems—particularly within defence and aerospace environments.
François Lombard, Head of Connected Intelligence at Airbus Defence and Space, stated that the acquisition is expected to strengthen Airbus’ ability to deliver resilient and sovereign cyber capabilities for national and allied security requirements.
INTEGRATION INTO AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE
Quarkslab’s expertise will be integrated into Airbus Defence and Space’s growing cybersecurity activities. The company’s engineering and research-led approach—linking academic research with operational deployment—will complement Airbus’ existing capabilities in securing complex digital systems and networks.
Quarkslab CEO and founder Fred Raynal noted that the move would enable the company to scale its solutions more effectively to meet the needs of governments and critical infrastructure providers across Europe.
BUILDING A PAN-EUROPEAN CYBER NETWORK
The acquisition follows Airbus’ earlier cybersecurity expansion, including the purchase of Infodas in Germany in 2024 and the planned acquisition of Ultra Cyber Ltd in the United Kingdom announced in March 2026.
Airbus Defence and Space now operates a pan-European cybersecurity network spanning France, Germany, the UK, Spain, and Finland, supporting government, defence, and institutional customers with cyber protection and intelligence capabilities.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: Airbus
