Air-to-Space Laser Communication Demonstrated

In December 2025, Airbus and TNO established a bidirectional laser communication link between an aircraft and a satellite in geostationary orbit at 36,000 km altitude. The demonstration validated an optical air-to-space communication system designed for high-capacity, secure data exchange in defence and commercial aviation applications.

Context of the Cooperation
The project addressed limitations of conventional radio frequency (RF) satellite communication, including spectrum congestion, bandwidth constraints and susceptibility to interception. Increasing data volumes from airborne platforms, such as ISR aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, require higher throughput and improved link security within evolving digital infrastructure.

Airbus led system integration and aircraft installation, while TNO developed critical optical and opto-mechatronic subsystems, including beam steering, acquisition and tracking mechanisms. The cooperation combined Airbus’ platform integration and satellite communication expertise with TNO’s precision optical control technologies to manage the dynamic conditions of airborne operation.

Technical Solution and Architecture
The jointly developed UltraAir terminal establishes an optical link between a moving aircraft and a satellite in geostationary orbit. Laser communication operates at optical wavelengths, enabling narrow beam divergence and higher spectral efficiency compared with RF systems.

Maintaining link stability required closed-loop tracking to compensate for aircraft motion, structural vibrations and atmospheric turbulence. TNO supplied optical assemblies, fine-pointing mechanisms and control algorithms capable of maintaining microradian-level beam accuracy over long distances. Airbus integrated the terminal with onboard power, avionics and satellite communication interfaces.

During the campaign, 31 closed-loop links were established, each lasting 6–14 minutes. Seven tests transmitted data at 2.6 Gbps for several minutes with zero bit errors recorded. The trials generated several hours of telemetry for performance validation and system analysis.

Deployment and Testing
Flight tests were conducted using an Airbus aircraft communicating with a satellite in geostationary orbit. The demonstration validated acquisition, tracking and data transmission under operational flight conditions.

The programme is supported by the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). UltraAir is part of a European effort to mature optical satellite communication technologies and transition them from experimental validation to operational deployment. Current development activities focus on terminal miniaturisation and system ruggedisation for broader aviation integration.

Applications and Expected Impact
Optical satellite communication enables multi-gigabit data rates and reduced probability of interception due to the narrow beam geometry. For defence aviation, this supports secure transmission of high-volume sensor data and mission updates. In commercial aviation, the technology can enable high-capacity in-flight connectivity and improved network resilience.

By demonstrating stable laser transmission over 36,000 km between two moving platforms, Airbus and TNO validated a technical foundation for scalable, secure optical links in aerospace and defence communication networks.

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