Airbus continues to strengthen sovereign cyber security with acquisition of Quarkslab in France
Paris, April 21, 2026. Airbus has entered into an agreement for the acquisition of the French cyber-security company Quarkslab. This planned investment is another step of Airbus’ strategy to reinforce its position as a trusted, sovereign partner for French authorities, while strengthening its presence in the European cybersecurity 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. In less than a month, this is the second acquisition agreement in the field of cyber-security signed by Airbus Defence and Space.
Quarkslab is a privately-owned French cybersecurity company founded in 2011, with approximately 100 employees, primarily based in Paris and Rennes. Since 2020, the firm 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 cyberattacks. It also markets QShield, a comprehensive solution for software providers, to protect software against AI threats, safeguard data, secrets and code and to secure edge components, namely in the defence and aerospace industries, from being reverse engineered by attackers or AI.
“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.”
Fred Raynal, CEO and Founder of Quarkslab, said “By going back to my roots at Airbus, where I first started professionally in cyber, I hope to extend the reach of Quarkslab. Europe needs stronger actors, and I believe Airbus is one of the few able to help us to scale for critical infrastructures and governments.”
Through the deep expertise of its in-house QLab team, combined with the security solution QShield, Quarkslab provides tailored solutions that help protect the government and private sector from increasingly sophisticated attacks. Its cyber-security engineers and developers focus on research and development and foster innovation by creating a junction between academic research and concrete practice. Being already an Airbus supplier and partner, Quarkslab will complement Airbus’ existing French sovereign capabilities of its cybersecurity business.
This move follows the successful acquisition of Infodas in Germany in 2024 and the planned acquisition of Ultra Cyber Ltd in the UK announced in March 2026, which strengthened Airbus’ European sovereign capabilities of its cybersecurity business. Today, Airbus Defence and Space operates a truly pan-European cyber activity across France, the UK, Germany, Spain and Finland. They secure complex digital systems and networks that Airbus Defence and Space delivers to its customers, as well as provide critical customers, primarily governments, armed forces and institutions, with cybersecurity expertise and products.
