Liebherr at ILA 2026

Liebherr-Aerospace is cooperating with major airframe manufacturers to deploy advanced actuation, landing gear, and thermal management systems across next-generation flight platforms. These technological implementations address industrial requirements for system electrification, weight reduction, and enhanced aerodynamic efficiency in the aviation sector.

Operational Challenges and Collaborative Framework
The aerospace industry requires increased fuel efficiency and systemic weight reduction to optimize lifecycle costs and meet evolving environmental standards. To address these complexities, Liebherr-Aerospace collaborates directly with aircraft manufacturers to integrate specialized flight control, actuation, and landing gear subsystems. This cooperative approach is necessary because next-generation aircraft designs demand deep technical integration between mechanical components, digital infrastructure, and power electronics. By utilizing a model-based enterprise framework to share digital models during early development phases, the participating companies accelerate design verification and optimize the overall aircraft architecture.




Technical Solution and System Architecture
The collaborative technical solutions focus heavily on system electrification, industrial automation, and advanced manufacturing. For the Boeing 777-9, Liebherr developed a specialized folding wing tip mechanism. This system integrates an angled gearbox, a power drive unit, and multiple actuators, allowing a large section of the wing to fold upward to accommodate existing airport gate dimensions while enabling a high-aspect-ratio wing design in flight.

To support the transition toward more-electric aircraft, the environmental control architectures incorporate a 100-kW motorized turbo compressor and associated motor control unit, progressively replacing conventional bleed air systems with electrical power. Additionally, the partnership leverages additive manufacturing for series production, resulting in a 3D-printed hydraulic valve block for the Airbus A350 lower cargo door actuation system, which reduces component weight while maintaining structural integrity.

Deployment and Infrastructure Integration
These subsystems are fully integrated into commercial and defense platforms. The landing gear system for the Airbus A220 serves as a weight-optimized narrowbody solution designed for high reliability and direct integration into existing airline maintenance workflows. In the defense sector, lifecycle support and onboard systems are deployed across various profiles, including the nose landing gear for the Eurofighter Typhoon. These components and systems will be publicly exhibited at the ILA Berlin trade show from June 10 to 14, 2026, in Berlin, Germany.




Industrial Applications and Process Impact
The implementation of these electromechanical and localized hydraulic systems provides measurable improvements in process stability and aircraft maintainability. Utilizing a Highly Efficient Power Pack (HEPP) allows for decentralized hydraulic supply, reducing the weight and complexity of centralized aircraft hydraulic lines. Furthermore, the deployment of vapor cycle compressors and patented air-liquid heat exchangers enhances onboard thermal management capabilities, providing the specialized cooling capacity necessary to support high-performance electronic components in increasingly digitized aircraft.

Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI.

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