Critical Software is teaming up with Airbus to create a new aerospace-focused tech company: Critical Flytech. The joint venture will be 51% owned by Airbus and 49% by the Coimbra-based Portuguese firm, with Ricardo Armas stepping in as CEO.
The company will develop embedded safety software for avionics, cabin systems, and connectivity solutions. Operations kick off in early 2026, with headquarters in Coimbra and an additional office in Lisbon. It will start with 120 employees and aims to reach 300 by 2028.
Armas says the goal is to build a “center of excellence in highly reliable aerospace software,” combining the strengths of both companies to push innovation in aviation, space, and defense.
Marc Fischer, Airbus VP of Engineering, highlights that the venture will help strengthen Airbus’s software capabilities at a moment when aerospace digitalization is accelerating.
This move mirrors Critical Software’s successful 2018 partnership with BMW, which created Critical TechWorks—another 51/49 joint venture focused on automotive software.
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