Airbus and TNO demo secure laser link between aircraft and satellite

03 Mar 2026

Geostationary UltraAir terminal test transmitted data optically at 36,000km altitude.

In December 2025, Airbus and TNO successfully established a secure laser communication link between an Airbus aircraft and a satellite in geostationary orbit, 36,000 kilometers above Earth.

The partners say that this achievement “proves that high speed, resilient air to space connectivity is no longer a vision but a reality”.

Using the UltraAir terminal, co developed by Airbus and TNO, the test showcased the partners’ ability to “transmit massive amounts of data via laser technology with unprecedented speed and security”.

This capability opens the door to a new era of global communications, they say, making such transmissions more efficient and harder to intercept, to the benefit of both military and commercial aviation.

Project achievements

The partners’ research and development program achieved 31 successful links with closed loop tracking, each lasting 6–14 minutes and generating many hours of telemetry. Seven tests were carried data at 2.6 Gbps for several minutes with zero bit errors. This first public demonstration marks a key step toward commercial laser communication for aviation and space.

François Lombard, Head of Connected Intelligence at Airbus Defense & Space, commented, “Establishing laser links between moving targets at this distance is technically very challenging. Continuous movements, platform vibrations and atmospheric disturbances require extreme precision.”

Current satellite communication relies on radio frequency bands, which lack the bandwidth and security demanded by today’s data volumes. Laser based optical links can transfer terabytes in seconds rather than hours, and their tightly focused beams are inherently harder to jam or intercept, a critical advantage for military operations. With this technology, aircraft and UAVs (drones) can securely and rapidly exchange large datasets via multi orbit satellite constellations, strengthening mission flexibility and information security.

Lombard added, “This milestone is a further development of our long successful laser communication history; it opens the door to a new era of laser satellite communications to meet defense and commercial needs in the next decades.”

Kees Buijsrogge, Director of Space at TNO, commented, “Secure laser communication is essential for both defense operations and civil connectivity. By leading in this field, we are strengthening Europe’s security and its autonomy.”

Next steps

This achievement demonstrates that secure, high-speed communication from air to space is feasible today, reinforcing European and Dutch competitiveness, said the statement. It opens the door to global data links that are faster, more efficient and more secure, supporting mission critical military operations and enabling high speed in flight internet for passengers.

Transmitting a laser beam over 36,000 kilometers, through the atmosphere, and between two moving objects is a formidable challenge. The beam must remain stable despite continuous motion and compensate for vibrations and atmospheric disturbances. TNO developed the optical, mechanical, and control technology needed to achieve this precision.

Airbus is leading the UltraAir project – described as “a cornerstone of ESA’s European initiative to mature optical satellite communication” – and has integrated the terminal into the aircraft, while TNO provides critical optical and control technologies.

The joint statement concluded, “Together with other partners we are working on miniaturizing the terminal for broader deployment. Beyond aircraft-to-satellite links, this technology could also enable secure laser communication for ships, vehicles, and commercial high-speed internet from the air.”

UltraAir is, accelerating the transition from demonstration to operational use with strong involvement from Dutch industry. The project was co-financed by Airbus, TNO, the Netherlands Space Office as well as the German Aerospace Center.