A. ENTITY DESCRIPTION 

Airbus is a European leader in defense and space. Through its Airbus Defiance and Space division, its products and services contribute to security in many different ways. They range from aircraft that enable nations to protect their airspace and people (including the A400M, the A330 MRTT, the C295, and the Eurofighter), to intelligence capabilities (observation satellites, maritime surveillance), ground-based space services, cyber security, and secure satellite communications solutions for government defense departments and public safety and emergency response organizations. On unmanned aerial systems (UAS), Airbus can design, develop, manufacture, deliver, support, and service a wide range of remotely piloted aircraft, being the main contractor for Eurodrone. Airbus is also positioned as a key player in FCAS (Future Combat Air System), Europe’s largest defense program for decades to come, and is currently under phase 1B. 

B. ROLE IN THE HERFUSE PROJECT 

Airbus Defense and Space Spain is responsible for center fuselage requirements definition, conceptual design, and technology enablers specification and maturation (jointly with other project partners). Technology enablers for the center fuselage include the development of an autonomous wireless structural health monitoring, the application of liquid resin infusion and oven consolidation for highly integrated fuselage components, TP and metallic welding maturation, the development of impact shields and the integration of fuselage sections. All these technologies will be tested at different levels and some integrated with other components from other partners into a fuselage section demonstrator. 

Airbus Defense and Space GmbH is leading and coordinating the preliminary design of the Fuselage and Empennage structure including system integration, in which several design options will be developed until the required maturity to evaluate opportunities and risks of advanced designs integrating several cutting-edge technological enablers covering new materials, designs, innovative system integration concepts, manufacturing technologies, digital design methods but also novel system installation concepts considered as enablers to reduce weight. Airbus Defense and Space-Germany will actively participate all along the Project from requirement definition, and design until demonstration and testing of the proposed technologies. 

Airbus Helicopters España SA (AHE) is responsible for designing and developing a platform-agnostic solution for the inner primary structure of the HERFUSE Upper Shell. AHE is leading and managing the activities from a micro-consortium in which are involved AITIIP, Mecanizados Vitoria, FIDAMC, CATEC, and CTA. All the activities will focus on the Upper Shell architecture definition, design, material, and manufacturing procedures. Research activities will be developed to achieve enough mature Thermoplastic Welding of primary structures thanks to Conductive and Resistive Welding. IR Thermography will be also used for technology maturation. The solutions developed into this project by AHE and its consortia will be able to be applied to HERA, Fix Wings, and Rotary Wing platforms.

Airbus Atlantic, world number two in aerostructures design and production, will participate in HERFUSE projects WP2, WP3, WP5, WP7 & WP8 by providing expertise for cockpit design, stress, PRA bird strike, and process simulation activities.