Airbus Integrates Synthetic Aircraft into German Air Force Exercise
Airbus has successfully connected its System Development Lab to a live German Air Force training environment, allowing synthetic aircraft to participate in exercises alongside real units.
The German Air Force has taken a significant step forward in its training exercises, with the integration of synthetic aircraft into a live exercise. According to Airbus, the company connected its System Development Lab to the live training environment during the Luftwaffe's Timber Express exercise, allowing synthetic aircraft and threats to be inserted into the same operational scenario as real participants.
Background to the Exercise The annual Timber Express exercise is designed to test the real-time exchange of tactical data among participating units and weapon systems. In the past, the exercise has involved other branches of the Bundeswehr, as well as NATO members and partner nations. This year, however, Airbus played a key role in the exercise, using its System Development Lab to integrate simulated assets with live forces.
René Birkholz, Business Developer for Future Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, described the System Development Lab as a "constructive engine" that enables the integration of simulated assets with live forces. This approach has several benefits, including reducing the cost of filling the airspace with aircraft, allowing systems that do not yet exist to be tested, and keeping sensitive tactics out of public view.
Future Plans for the System Development Lab Airbus plans to use the System Development Lab throughout the development of weapon systems, running large volumes of automated simulations to compare configurations before designs are fixed. This will enable the company to test and evaluate different systems and configurations in a virtual environment, reducing the need for physical prototypes and minimizing the risk of errors or failures.
Broader Implications for the German Air Force The integration of synthetic aircraft into live exercises is part of a broader effort by the German Air Force to connect its Eurofighter aircraft with uncrewed combat aircraft. The German government is preparing a competition for "fighter-bomber drones" that will operate alongside its fighters, with an initial capability sought by 2029. The German Air Force chief, Lieutenant General Holger Neumann, has emphasized the importance of networking aircraft, uncrewed systems, and sensors through a combat cloud, and the integration of synthetic aircraft into live exercises is a key step towards achieving this goal.
The German Air Force is not alone in its efforts to develop and integrate uncrewed combat aircraft. France is also pursuing a parallel national path, developing a stealth combat drone to support the Rafale F5 from 2033. While the joint FCAS program remains stalled, both Germany and France are moving separately towards a similar model, extending their existing fighters with uncrewed teammates. The following table summarizes the key features of the German and French programs: | Country | Program | Initial Capability | Platform | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Germany | Fighter-bomber drones | 2029 | Eurofighter | | France | Stealth combat drone | 2033 | Rafale F5 |
