The financing is aimed at advancing Airbus’ technological edge in commercial and defence aviation. The EIB said the agreement will contribute to strengthening Europe’s technological leadership and manufacturing excellence as foundations of economic security.
The funding will support Airbus’ planned investments through 2030 in advanced technologies and integrated systems for commercial aviation, as well as security and defence systems. The specific investment projects are located across France, Germany and Spain and are intended to strengthen Europe’s aerospace and defence ecosystems.
“The EIB Group is deploying its full firepower to bolster Europe’s technological autonomy, industrial strength and economic competitiveness,” EIB President Nadia Calviño told a signature ceremony in Brussels. “This is a flagship operation, approved within about six months from the request, which shows that Europe can move with speed and at scale to support its champions and reinforce its position in the emerging geopolitical landscape.”
The financing is the first tranche of a €3 billion envelope, which the EIB described as the largest corporate loan it has ever authorised. The bank said the size of the package reflects the level of investment needed by Europe’s leading aerospace manufacturer to continue competing successfully in the global market.
The EIB said the loan offers flexible terms, including long maturities, to provide predictable long-term funding for major programmes. Those programmes are also intended to support Europe’s industrial resilience and technological leadership.
“This facility reinforces the depth of our strategic partnership with the EIB, supporting the commercial and defence research that drives European industrial competitiveness. The highly competitive terms and extended flexibility grant us the maximum optionality to manage our balance sheet, minimise the cost of carry and sustain our long-term investments in aerospace innovation,” said Airbus CFO Thomas Toepfer.
The agreement was signed at a ceremony in Brussels that also featured Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury and EIB Vice-Presidents Robert de Groot, Ambroise Fayolle and Nicola Beer. Airbus’ innovation pipeline is focused on advanced manufacturing solutions, next-generation capabilities, decarbonisation levers and connected ecosystems across aerospace, defence and space.
For the EIB, the financing falls under the TechEU initiative. The initiative seeks to accelerate investment in critical technologies and strengthen the European Union’s industrial and technological competitiveness.
The EIB Group is the financing arm of the European Union and is owned by the 27 Member States. In 2025, it signed €100 billion in new financing and advisory services for more than 870 high-impact projects under eight core priorities supporting EU policy objectives.
