Two leaders in German aviation, the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and Diehl Aviation, have agreed to jointly research and develop innovative technologies for civil aviation, with a special focus on aircraft systems, cabin technologies and supply systems.
DLR and Diehl will collaborate to develop and test innovative solutions for the aviation industry. The partners, with many decades of experience between them, will bundle their strengths and expertise to develop practical, forward-looking solutions together. Their research activities will cover the following areas:
- Developing and testing innovative technologies for aircraft systems, avionics, cabin systems and on-board supplies.
- Researching innovative design and verification methods, especially those related to simulation-based approval processes (validation and verification, virtual aircraft approval).
- Developing joint project formats to more quickly bring technologies from the research stage to application.
“Our cooperation with DLR is an important step toward tackling the technological challenges and opportunities of aviation together,” says Jörg Schuler, CEO of Diehl Aviation. “By combining our industrial experience with DLR’s scientific excellence, we’re creating a powerful basis for innovation and its implementation.”
DLR also emphasises the importance of the new partnership: "Together, we are making a significant contribution to the sustainable and high-performance aviation of tomorrow – in the areas of avionics, cabins and future-looking system architectures," explains Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chair of the DLR Executive Board. "This cooperation is the successful continuation of many years of joint activities in security and defence research."
The partnership agreement is open-ended and forms the framework for specific research projects to design more efficient cabins and system architecture. DLR and Diehl will combine their strengths to develop solutions for current and future challenges in the aviation industry – from low-emission flights to smart cabin design to the digitisation of development and approval processes.
DLR at a glance
The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) is Germany’s national research and technology centre for aeronautics, space, energy, transport, security and defence. DLR’s work spans a wide range of applications, delivering results and innovations that benefit industry and business, government agencies and the public sector. At the heart of DLR’s mission is its commitment to society, which it fulfils through extensive knowledge sharing and targeted technology transfer. The German Space Agency at DLR is responsible for planning and implementing German space activities on behalf of the federal government. Additionally, two project management agencies at DLR manage research and industrial funding programmes.
Earth’s climate is changing, along with global mobility and technology. DLR harnesses the expertise of its 51 research institutes and facilities to develop solutions to these challenges. All 11,000 employees share a common mission: to explore Earth and space while developing technologies for a sustainable future. DLR’s technologies are not confined to the laboratory, but are transferred to wider society, strengthening Germany’s position as a prime location for research and industrial innovation.
About Diehl Aviation
Diehl Aviation is a global partner for the aviation industry. The supplier is recognized as a pioneer that drives innovation and shapes the future of flying. Diehl Aviation aims to make travel safer and more comfortable, save valuable resources and present ground-breaking solutions to customers in all business areas. Diehl Aviation (including Diehl Aerospace, a joint venture with Thales) is a leading supplier of avionics, aircraft systems and cabin solutions and currently has over 5,200 employees. Its customers include leading aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer, as well as military partners, manufacturers of eVTOL aircraft, and airlines and operators of commercial and business aircraft worldwide.