The global aerospace industry is undergoing a profound transformation. Climate protection, security and serial production capability are becoming the benchmarks for future innovation. Experts from the Fraunhofer‑Gesellschaft will be showing how applied research translates these requirements into marketable solutions at ILA Berlin 2026, where they will be presented at two booths in the Aviation (Hall C, Booth 280) and Space areas (Hall B, Booth 240). From climate-friendly propulsion systems and large scale-producible space technologies to satellite-based Earth observation systems, Fraunhofer will demonstrate research results that are not only enabling the transformation of the aerospace industry but also bringing it to fruition.

Aviation: technologies for climate-friendly, cost-effective flight

The experts at Booth 280 in Hall C will be showing how new propulsion concepts, sustainable materials and their transfer to cost-effective production processes can pave the way for electricity-powered, climate-friendly aviation. They will also be focusing on high-rate production capability, i.e., robust, scalable production processes.

Electric and hybrid flights will be a major topic at this year’s ILA. In this area, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology IISB will be presenting their power electronics and electric drive components, including DC-DC converters with one of the world’s highest power densities, high-voltage distribution systems and a megawatt-class electric motor for electric powertrains. These systems address the increasingly exacting standards governing efficiency, weight and safety in electricity-powered aircraft.

They will be complemented by demonstrators for fuel cell-based propulsion systems, which illustrate how electric power supply, propulsion and system integration can work together to achieve low-emission flights.

In the area of hydrogen in aviation, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM will be presenting HYTANK: the world’s first flexible, automated machining and assembly plant for CFRP hydrogen tanks, extending beyond surface pre-treatment and barrier layer. This system marks the first step toward the future serial production of liquid hydrogen tanks for flight operations, making it a key milestone for the future of hydrogen-powered aircraft.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS will be demonstrating EcoRudder to illustrate how climate action, lightweight design and industrial manufacturing can be combined. This exhibit, developed as part of the European Clean Aviation project FasterH2, features an aircraft rudder made from recyclable thermoplastic sandwich structures. A special manufacturing process allows the components to be produced within very short cycle times, thus demonstrating how expensive one-off production can be scaled for serial manufacturing.

Other exhibits will showcase automated manufacturing processes for thermoplastic composite components, digitally supported assembly processes and data-integrated concepts for circular economy and traceability in aircraft construction.

Space: from the production line into orbit

Fraunhofer’s presence at Booth 240 in Hall B will focus on technologies that can be used both in space and for applications here on Earth. Guided by the theme “Space for Earth,” Fraunhofer experts will present sensor and communication solutions, materials for extreme environments as well as security and defense technologies. Their solutions show how space-based systems for Earth observation, climate analysis, and crisis prevention can help build resilient infrastructure.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, for instance, will be demonstrating technologies for a 5G/6G non-terrestrial network base station that can be used to test and validate future satellite communications under real orbital conditions — a key requirement for robust network connectivity, precise timing references and stable communication systems.

The optical modules developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF for the ESA mission CO2M, which was initiated to measure global CO₂ emissions, will enable high-precision monitoring of Earth from space and are designed to serve both humanity and the environment. The dispersers developed at the institute, the first of their kind worldwide, will facilitate high-resolution, quantitative measurements of greenhouse gases and are intended to supply reliable data for climate action and climate monitoring. 

Also on display will be Fraunhofer IOF’s compact space spectrometer “Rainbow,” which was developed for resource-efficient smart farming and optimized for use on small satellites and for determining soil moisture and nutrient availability. 

Additionally, Fraunhofer experts will demonstrate how robust systems, dependable quality, and cost-effective production are contributing to the industrialization of space flight, also in small and medium-sized production runs. Numerous exhibits will explain how additive, high-precision manufacturing processes are facilitating the transition from one-off parts to reproducible spaceflight components. 

A mission wall and a virtual satellite will visualize the full bandwidth and continuity of the space expertise assembled at Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE for the Earth and beyond: from materials science and processes, ground and space-based sensors, technologies for observing the Earth, secure communications, and the protection of space systems through to planetary missions.

Innovation needs application

The industrial and digital implementation of innovative technologies will have a decisive impact on the future of aerospace. Electrification, hydrogen technologies, satellite communications and Earth observation can only deliver their full benefits if they can be realized in industrial manufacturing in ways that are scalable, robust and cost-effective. Digitalization – through cyber-physical systems, for instance – makes these processes safer, easier to plan and more economical.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s presence at ILA 2026 emphasizes its role as a valuable innovation partner in aerospace research. The technologies exhibited combine leading-edge research with industrial feasibility – from idea to application. 

In addition to the solutions being showcased, the Speakers Corner at Booth 240 in Hall B will offer a platform for short presentations and discussions on current research topics, technology trends, and future applications. Fraunhofer researchers will also contribute to other expert presentations and discussions, for instance on the ILA Stage AVIATION hosted by the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI).