Airbus Defence and Space’s latest German Improved Air Defence System (GIADS IV) has achieved full technical capability (FTC) within the German Air Force, Airbus announced on 22 August 2025.
The milestone was achieved following extensive and rigorous testing on the way to the system achieving full operational capability (FOC), which is expected in 2026. The system, running on the Deployable Control and Reporting Centre (DCRC), is now fully integrated into the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS).
The milestone follows the GIADS IV air battle management command-and-control system’s initial technical capability (ITC) being achieved in 2023 and the system’s deployment to the Baltic Sea region in 2024 as part of NATO’s enhanced Baltic Air Policing (eBAP) mission. The system supports the core mission of ensuring the safety and sovereignty of German airspace 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“In close co-operation with the German Air Force, we have delivered an air battle management command-and-control system that keeps the operators at the forefront of modern air defence,” Harald Mannheim, managing director of Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “We are proud to deliver the most advanced real-time air battle management command-and-control system currently in operation within NATO to the German Air Force. We highly value close co-operation with the German Air Force. The system is largely customer-driven and reflects the continuous feedback provided by experts of the German Air Force, who have been co-located at Airbus premises over the past years.”
At the heart of the next-generation system is Airbus Fortion 1SkyControl software. This enhances NATO interoperability by enabling seamless data communication through the native integration of tactical datalinks such as Link 16. The software integrates data from multiple radar sensors, ensuring high tracking accuracy and automatically correlates flight and mission plans. This provides multi-domain situational awareness and assists in identifying airborne objects, providing tactical guidance, and co-ordinating with both military and civil air traffic control. GIADS IV is capable of automatically identifying all objects in the airspace, which significantly reduces the risk of mistakenly targeting friendly forces.
The GIADS IV rollout includes both hardware and software upgrades for the DCRC. The software uses an open system architecture, incorporating private cloud and machine-learning technologies, ensuring flexibility for future upgrades and integration of new systems.
“With a recently signed contract to upgrade both stationary Control and Reporting Centres, Airbus will continue to empower the German Air Force in safeguarding national and coalition airspace,” the company stated.
