en.Wedoany.com Reported - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz inaugurated the 2026 Berlin International Aerospace Exhibition and introduced the federal government's new strategy integrating civil and military aviation. The strategy aims to safeguard defense capabilities, technological sovereignty, and supply chain resilience. The aerospace industry has been designated as a strategically critical sector in Europe, with sustainable aviation fuels, hydrogen technology, new materials such as thermoplastic composites, digitalization and additive manufacturing, as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), forming the core technological pillars for achieving climate-neutral flight. Space exploration infrastructure is regarded as the second pillar.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials presented a significant milestone in the development of hydrogen-powered aircraft at the exhibition. Its HYTANK processing and assembly plant showcased what is currently the world's first flexible production facility for lightweight carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) hydrogen tanks for the aviation industry. This facility is seen as a crucial step towards the future mass production of liquid hydrogen tanks for flight.
Markus Heß, Head of the Economic Policy Department at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, stated in his keynote speech: "If you want to develop the next generation of aerospace technologies, you must invest today in materials, manufacturing processes, and industrial scaling. Materials are key—materials matter." He emphasized that artificial intelligence can greatly accelerate the development of new materials and is therefore regarded as a technological enabler and key component for aviation decarbonization.
A panel discussion titled "AI-Enhanced Development of High-Performance Materials and Structures" explored the expanded application of AI in materials and structural design. Representatives from Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Hexcel, and the non-profit research center Access e.V. agreed that AI-driven simulations and data analysis can accurately predict material properties and significantly shorten development cycles. Dr. Björn Hinze, Capability Procurement Manager at Rolls-Royce Germany, pointed out that AI is not always reliable and that engineering judgment remains crucial, recommending prioritizing the construction of trustworthy AI infrastructure and leaving decision-making to experts. Mathias Jessrang, Director of Business Development at Hexcel, emphasized: "The more extensively AI is used, the more important human judgment becomes." Dr. Christian Weimer, Head of Materials at Airbus Central Research and Technology, provided examples of how AI accelerates workflows, particularly through the European-hosted, GDPR-compliant Haloon hub, enabling the recycling of thermoplastics from old aircraft and their reintegration into new aircraft production.
Hexcel also showcased the FACC Ultra-Performance Wing Demonstrator, which utilizes Hexcel's continuous fiber prepregs and injection technology to construct complex 3D geometries.
Dr. Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency, emphasized that lightweight materials are at the forefront of current research and technology development. He mentioned that emerging space facilities, such as the planned near-future in-orbit data centers, which need to utilize solar energy and passive thermal management to host high-performance computing, require the development of new advanced composite materials to adapt to this challenging environment.
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