For us at Terma, participation is invaluable. We catch up with partners and get a change to reconnect with customers from every continent. And above all, it’s a place where we stay in the know with industry innovation, get new ideas, and a feeling of where the industry – and client requests – are heading the coming years.
In this article, you’ll get a couple of the key takeaways, we picked up at this year’s International Paris Air Show.
Let’s get to it.
1. Defense in Space is Entering a New Orbit
Space is a key domain, alongside land, sea, and air, and plays a critical role in military missions and operations. For defense, space unlocks more resilient communications, real-time ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), and rapid tactical data relay.
Today, militaries view orbit as an indispensable extension of the battlespace. We're seeing linking distributed forces, beyond-line-of-sight connectivity, and precision geolocation and early-warning capabilities for armed forces in all domains - in real time.
As the importance of space in defense increases, so does the level of cyberattacks on space infrastructure. The increasing congestion and contestation of space pose growing risks to global security, further exacerbating the vulnerabilities highlighted by recent cyberattacks.
At Terma, we’re committed to delivering advanced solutions that safeguard satellites, ground systems, and mission-critical operations. Our strategy is clear: Secure by design, governed by standards, validated continuously. With a wide portfolio of space products, from on-ground testing facilities to in-space star tracker technology, a comprehensive Mission Control System and engineering services, we are ready to accelerate space missions across the board and look forward to partnering with both new and established players in what we consider the industry of this millennium.
Figure 1 Space Proven Power Supply with High Output and Small Mechanical Footprint.
2. Modular, Mission-Driven Protection Systems Are the Future
Agility and adaptability have always been decisive in combat zones. In today’s combat and defense the need for flexibility has only increased.
With everchanging threats and combat scenarios in today’s battlefield, a modular and mission-driven approach to self-protection systems becomes critical to both active engagement missions as well as surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
At Paris Air Show, we interviewed active F-35 warfighters and the message was clear: mission specific systems is the only way to stay ahead.
At Terma, adaptability has always taken center stage in our defense systems and products. At Paris Air Show, we had the possibility to bring our PIDS+ pylon , currently fielded on Ukrainian F-16s and flanked by the combat-proven ALQ-213 family of Electronic Warfare (EW) controllers, both of which are testaments to the flexibility of our self-protection suite.
Because the ALQ-213 is platform-agnostic , any sensor or effector - current or future - can be integrated without rewriting the aircraft’s DNA. That modularity compresses fielding timelines, keeps cost down and lets operators tailor self-protection suites to evolving missions. Throughout the week we met with our integration partners, reinforcing that co-designing from day one yields the most advanced and affordable protection possible
Figure 2: PIDS+ Pylon currently in combat on Ukrainian F-16 fighters.
3. Real-World Insight from the Crews Who Count on Us
Paris is more than a showcase; it’s a classroom. During the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) U.S. corral tour, our team spoke with aircrews who rely on industry collaboration to respond to their needs.
- F-35 pilots told us mission-planning tools remain labor-intensive and that longer-range missiles top their wish list—insights that steer how we integrate and carriage solutions.
- C-130 crews highlighted persistent cockpit-audio overload, confirming that clear, prioritized sound management is as critical to airlifters as it is to fighters and rotorcraft.
- A Chinook helicopter pilot shared a desire for greater automation, so long as it remains reliable, underscoring the balance required between innovation and operational trust.
One thing was abundantly clear: every crew believes they fly the best machine on earth so we better be sure to build it. These airmen take extraordinary pride in their aircraft, their mission, and their teammates. Conversations like these remind us that behind every system stands a pilot, loadmaster, or boom operator counting on seamless integration to keep missions - and people - safe.
Figure 3: Listening to real warfighters with real requests.
4. Global Defense Demands Resilience and Cooperation
The talk of the town at the Paris Air Show was undoubtably – and maybe obviously – the geopolitical changes and the European defense. And although tensions in the alliances and tariff debates can cloud the outlook, the defense partnerships forged over decades remain remarkably robust. Interoperability is non-negotiable – and it’s a clear message from both warfighters and the industry.
As our Executive Vice President, Steen Lynenskjold, noted on our special Paris Air Show edition podcast episode, success hinges on communities, industry, and governments sustaining an innovative industrial base that delivers both security and economic vitality. Paris underscored this truth, when nations share information, co-invest in R&D, and build programs together, they field capabilities faster and protect more lives. Collaboration isn’t just idealistic; it is the strategic advantage that brings warfighters home and keeps civilians secure.
Bottom line: The International Paris Air Show reaffirmed that space is strategic, modularity is mandatory, listening drives innovation, and cooperation remains our greatest strength. Terma is proud to stand with partners worldwide to turn these insights into mission-ready solutions.