Airbus reported a 12% rise in first-half revenue for 2026 to €33.2 billion, with its Defence and Space division recording the strongest growth across the group as European governments increased military spending and demand for defence capabilities rose.
Orders at the defence business nearly doubled to €9.3 billion from €5.1 billion a year earlier. Revenue increased to €6.3 billion, while adjusted operating profit rose 84% to €487 million, reflecting stronger activity across Airbus’s defence and space portfolio.
Across the wider group, Airbus delivered 351 commercial aircraft during the first half, up from 306 a year earlier, helping lift adjusted operating profit to €2.73 billion.
Commercial aircraft remained the group’s largest profit contributor, generating €1.99 billion in adjusted operating profit compared with €487 million from Defence and Space.
Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said the results reflected “the higher level of commercial aircraft deliveries and strong performance in Defence and Space” despite a complex and rapidly changing operating environment.
Airbus maintained its full-year guidance, targeting around 870 commercial aircraft deliveries and adjusted operating profit of about €7.5 billion.
The results add to a broader trend across Europe’s aerospace and defence sector, where manufacturers are benefiting from higher government spending and stronger demand for military equipment following years of underinvestment.
