Thomas Grohs

Head of Future Capabilities Airbus Defence & Space

Thomas is Head of Future Capabilities at Airbus Defence and Space GmbH.

His task is to translate the capability gaps of the customers into efficient and effective solution concepts through combining the portfolio bricks of the whole division and embarking on new ways of solving technical challenges.

Thomas joined the company in 1997 having graduated from Technical University of Munich, Germany with a Degree in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering.

In his early career he was working in a cooperation program between German Aerospace Center (Research Institute) and former Daimler-Benz Aerospace (which became AIRBUS) getting trained as Flight Test Systems Engineer for Handling Qualities and aerodynamic Parameter identification.

From 2000 until 2003 he had the rare opportunity to work on one of the X-series experimental aircraft test programs, the X-31 VECTOR Program together with colleagues from Boeing, US Navy and the German Procurement Office located at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD, USA. He finished the program as AIRBUS Chief Engineer being responsible for the German Workshare (Flight Control System, Thrust Vectoring, Flush Air Data System).

After his return to Germany in 2003 he held various positions in the Flight Test Department of Airbus, ranging from managing the Eurofighter/Typhoon Flight Tests to Deputy Head of Airbus Defence and Space Flight Test (Germany & Spain) and leading the Flight Test Center in Manching, Germany.

In 2016 Thomas took over the position as Chief Engineer for the Combat Aircraft Programs of Airbus Defence and Space.

From 2019 to 2023 he held the position of Future Combat Air System Chief Engineer leading all engineering activities within Airbus on the next generation of airborne weapon systems, developing manned and unmanned assets with integrated cross platform teaming capabilities.

Since January 2024 Thomas is Head of Future Capabilities, looking after System of System Solutions bringing together the Air, Space and Digital portfolio bricks of AIRBUS Defence and Space generating operational Capabilities in a multi-domain environment with a clear focus on Air and Space. In addition, his department manages all Innovation, Research & Technology activities for the Division.

His main base is the Airbus Site in Manching, however due to the nature of the task he is linking with all Airbus Defence and Space entities and the international partners.

Thomas is passionate about developing technical solutions which solve operational capability needs of our military customers with a clear focus on the air and space domain. He is broadly connected with military users, the Research and Innovation Landscape of the AIRBUS core countries, as well as with the different industrial partners from SMEs to OEMs. Thomas is 52 years old, married and has a daughter (16).