The Ukrainian company SkyFall and Airbus Defence and Space have signed a memorandum of strategic partnership at the ILA Berlin Air Show 2026. The agreement focuses on the development of a multi-layered air defence system that combines Ukrainian innovation with Airbus’s expertise. One of the key steps will be the integration of the P1-SUN interceptor drone with the Airbus Air C2 airspace management system.
- SkyFall and Airbus Defence and Space have signed a memorandum of strategic partnership.
- The partnership aims to establish a new-generation, multi-layered air defence system.
- The P1-SUN interceptor drone is to be integrated with the Airbus Air C2 airspace management system.
- P1-SUN interceptors have destroyed around 10,000 Russian drones of various types.
Signing of a memorandum at the ILA Berlin Air Show
12 June 2026, as part of Europe’s largest aerospace exhibition ILA Berlin Air Show The Ukrainian technology and defence company SkyFall and Airbus Defence and Space have signed a memorandum of strategic partnership. The signing took place in the presence of German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. The document formalises the intention to develop joint solutions in the field of air defence.
Combining Ukrainian innovation with European expertise
The memorandum provides for the creation of a new-generation, multi-layered air defence system that combines SkyFall’s operational experience and technological flexibility with Airbus’s expertise in the command and control of integrated air and missile defence (IAMD). SkyFall CEO Nikolai Makoveev and CEO of Airbus Defence and Space Michael Schelhorn signed the document, emphasising the strategic importance of the alliance.
Integration of the P1-SUN interceptor drone with the Airbus Air C2
One of the practical areas of cooperation will be the integration of a Ukrainian interceptor drone P1-SUN equipped with the Airbus Air C2 airspace management system. According to SkyFall, the P1-SUN has already destroyed around 10,000 Russian drones of various types, demonstrating the technology’s effectiveness in protecting airspace.
Impact on European security and technological sovereignty
The partnership is in line with the objectives of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) and helps to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty. According to Michael Scheelhorn, the alliance will help bridge the gap between traditional defence systems and innovations with short development cycles, as well as enhance cooperation between countries to counter massed attacks by drones and other weapons.
Technology demonstration and subsequent integration
Two days before the memorandum was signed, SkyFall conducted demonstration flights of its Vampire and P1-SUN drones in front of delegations from Germany, Sweden, Norway and Finland, as well as representatives of the European Commission and NATO. In May 2026, Germany and Norway had already announced the joint production of Ukrainian mid-strike drones, strengthening Ukraine’s defence-industrial integration with Europe.
Significance for Ukraine’s defence industry
The signing of the memorandum with Airbus is a logical step in the development of the Ukrainian defence industry and its entry into the pan-European market. It also reinforces Ukraine’s role as a leading innovator in the field of unmanned technologies, which are of strategic importance for protecting Europe’s airspace from modern threats.
