Germany Aero/Space Ecosystem

Germany’s Aero/Space sector is a powerhouse of innovation and engineering, and accounts for around 11% of the European Aero/Space market (2023) 

Here’s a snapshot of key players shaping the country’s vibrant aero/space ecosystem.

Airbus SE – European multinational that designs, manufactures and sells civil and military aircraft, helicopters and space systems.

MTU Engines AG – Germany’s leading aircraft-engine company, developing, manufacturing and servicing military and civil powerplants.

Lufthansa Technik – Global provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services focused on innovation and sustainability.

German Aerospace Center (DLR) – National research agency responsible for aeronautics and space programs, employing over 10,000 people.

OHB SE – Technology group that builds and operates scientific, Earth-observation and communications satellites.

Diehl Aviation – International supplier of cabin integration, avionics and flight-control systems for leading airframers.

Premium AEROTEC – Specialist in large, complex aircraft structures for civil and military programs.

Hutchinson PFW Aerospace  – Tier-1 supplier of curved pipe systems, structural components and fuel tanks.

Liebherr Aerospace – Provider of landing-gear, flight-control and air-management systems.

Deutsche Aircraft – Manufacturer developing the D328eco regional turboprop based on Dornier heritage.

Rheinmetall AG – Defense and aerospace group delivering advanced weapons, munitions and military vehicles.

Hensoldt AG – Defense-electronics firm specializing in radar, sensors and electronic-warfare solutions.

MT Aerospace AG – Producer of launch-vehicle structures, satellite components and optical telescopes.

H3 GROB Aircraft SE – Builder of composite military trainers and general-aviation aircraft.

Isar Aerospace – Developing the Spectrum small-satellite launch vehicle for affordable, dedicated access to orbit.

Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) – Building low-cost, rapid-turnaround launch services for satellite constellations.

The Exploration Company – Creating the reusable Nyx spacecraft for cargo transport to space stations and lunar missions.

OroraTech – Provides wildfire detection and thermal-intelligence services via nanosatellites.

LiveEO – Delivers Earth-observation analytics for energy, rail and agricultural infrastructure monitoring.

German Orbital Systems – Offers turnkey CubeSat missions and subsystems for small spacecraft.

Reflex Aerospace – Designs and manufactures customizable small-satellite platforms at scale.

ConstellR – Building a thermal-infrared satellite constellation for global water-stress monitoring.

OKAPI:Orbits – SaaS platform for satellite collision-avoidance and space-traffic management.Atmos

Space Cargo – Developing technology to return cargo safely and quickly from orbit.

Volocopter – Pioneering electric air taxis with its VoloCity multicopter for intra-city passenger flights.

Lilium GmbH – Developing the five-seat Lilium Jet electric VTOL for regional air-taxi networks.

Wingcopter – Produces hybrid fixed-wing/rotor drones for medical and parcel delivery missions.

Germandrones GmbH – Builds the Songbird VTOL drone for industrial surveying and inspection.

HyImpulse Technologies – A DLR spin-off developing hybrid-propellant rockets (paraffin fuel + liquid oxygen) and recently flight-testing its SR75 sounding rocket as a precursor to the SL1 small-satellite launcher.

Polaris Raumflugzeuge – Munich-based startup designing fully reusable hypersonic spaceplanes; it secured a 2025 Bundeswehr contract to build a two-stage demonstrator for research and potential small-satellite launch missions.

Yuri GmbH – Space-biotech company providing “lab-as-a-service” micro-gravity platforms; its automated ScienceTaxi incubators flew more than 25 missions to the ISS and recently expanded under a new logistics partnership with Sierra Space.

Blickfeld – Develops MEMS-based LiDAR sensors for autonomous vehicles and drones.

Copting GmbH – Provides customized UAV systems and professional drone-flight services.

Beagle Systems GmbH – Operates long-range drones (up to 200 km) for BVLOS commercial missions.

Helsing – Defense-tech firm applying AI to advanced military drones and sensor fusion.

H3 Dynamics – Supplies hydrogen-electric propulsion and fuel-cell solutions for aviation.

ARX Robotics – Develops rugged, autonomous ground robotics with aerospace applications.

Pixel Photonics – Designs waveguide-integrated superconducting single-photon detectors for quantum and space uses.

Jena-Optronik – Manufactures optoelectronic sensors, star trackers and LiDAR for spacecraft.

Mynaric – Produces laser-communication terminals enabling high-bandwidth links between satellites, aircraft and ground stations.