Airbus snaps up second cyber security firm in less than month

The aerospace heavyweight said the agreement would build a ‘digital shield’ in Europe

Airbus has agreed a deal to acquire a French cyber security firm less than a month after snapping up a British business operating in the same sector. The aerospace giant, which has UK bases in Filton near Bristol and Broughton in North Wales, said acquisition of Quakslab would “strengthen its presence” in the European cyber-security landscape.

Closing of the transaction is subject to consultation with social partners as well as customary regulatory approvals and is expected in the course of 2026, Airbus said.

Quarkslab is a privately-owned French cyber-security company founded in 2011, with around 100 employees, primarily based in Paris and Rennes. Since 2020, the firm, which is already an Airbus supplier and partner, has been backed by Tikehau Capital, a global alternative asset manager.

The company delivers cyber security solutions to help organisations protect critical assets, data, and users from cyber attacks.

“Quarkslab’s deep expertise and team are expected to join the fast-growing cyber activities within Airbus Defence and Space and to reinforce a resilient, sovereign cyber player in France and across Europe,” said François Lombard, head of connected intelligence business unit at Airbus Defence and Space.

“This acquisition will strengthen our ability to build the digital shield required to help keep our home nations and allies ahead in the cyber-security domain.”

The announcement follows the acquisition of UK-based Ultra Cyber in March. The company has more than 200 employees, who are mainly based at a state-of-the-art cyber centre of excellence in Maidenhead.

“This acquisition [of Ultra Cyber] testifies to our long-term commitment to the UK as a core home market,” Mike Schoellhorn, chief executive of Airbus Defence and Space said last month.

He added: “We are building the resilient, sovereign infrastructure required to help keep the UK and its allies ahead in the cyber domain.”

In February, Airbus reported a record financial performance over the year amid rising demand for commercial aircraft. The size of Airbus’s global workforce also rose by five per cent during the period to 165,294.