Airbus, the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer, has taken a decisive step away from US technology dominance by announcing plans to migrate critical digital systems off Google’s cloud infrastructure. The move underscores growing European concerns over data sovereignty, national security, and the expanding reach of US jurisdiction into sensitive industrial and defense-related information.

The European aerospace corporation confirmed that security risks linked to US laws – rather than purely technical shortcomings – were the primary motivation behind the decision. Airbus executives have made clear that control over sensitive data, including aircraft design, production systems, and business management platforms, can no longer be entrusted to cloud services subject to American legal oversight.

At the center of these concerns is the reality that US-based cloud providers, regardless of where their servers are physically located, remain subject to American legislation such as the CLOUD Act. This law allows US authorities to compel companies to provide access to data under certain circumstances, even if that data is stored overseas. For Airbus, whose work intersects directly with European defense, industrial strategy, and national security interests, such exposure is increasingly viewed as unacceptable.

Airbus’s decision also comes at a sensitive moment for Google. The tech giant is currently facing a class-action lawsuit in the United States over alleged privacy violations connected to its AI assistant, Gemini. According to reporting by Bloomberg, the lawsuit claims that Gemini was quietly activated across Gmail, Google Chat, and Google Meet in October without explicit user consent.

Plaintiffs allege that the AI tool granted Google access to private emails, attachments, and video calls, raising serious questions about user awareness and data protection. Google has denied the accusations, stating that the company adheres to strict privacy standards. However, the lawsuit has intensified scrutiny of how AI systems are integrated into existing platforms – and whether users truly maintain control over their information.

While Airbus executives have not directly linked their cloud migration decision to the Gemini lawsuit, the timing has amplified broader anxieties about transparency, consent, and the use of sensitive data by US-based technology firms.

Airbus is now preparing to issue a major tender for a “digitally sovereign” European cloud provider capable of handling its most sensitive workloads. The contract, estimated to be worth more than €50 million (approximately $58.5 million), is expected to launch in early January, with a final decision anticipated before the summer.

The migration will not be limited to email or collaboration tools. Airbus plans to move mission-critical systems, including those tied to aircraft design, industrial production, and enterprise management. These systems form the backbone of Airbus’s operations and contain intellectual property that is vital not only to the company but also to Europe’s broader aerospace and defense ecosystem.

Before the migration can take place, Airbus intends to further consolidate its existing data center infrastructure, a process that reflects the complexity and scale of the transition. Despite its size and influence, the company has acknowledged that identifying a European cloud provider capable of meeting both its technical demands and strict legal requirements is far from guaranteed.

Airbus has publicly estimated only an 80 percent chance of finding a suitable European partner – a striking admission that highlights how far Europe still has to go in building cloud infrastructure that can rival US hyperscalers such as Google, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft Azure.

Catherine Jestin, Airbus’s executive vice president of digital, has been blunt about the rationale behind the move. Speaking to The Register, she emphasized that the data involved goes far beyond routine corporate information.

“I need a sovereign cloud because part of the information is extremely sensitive from a national and European perspective,” Jestin said. “We want to ensure this information remains under European control.”

Her remarks reflect a broader shift in thinking among European industrial giants, many of which are reassessing long-standing reliance on American technology platforms. As geopolitical tensions rise and digital infrastructure becomes increasingly intertwined with national security, cloud computing is no longer viewed as a neutral utility but as a strategic asset.

The decision also comes amid renewed competition between Airbus and its long-time US rival, Boeing. While Airbus has led the global aircraft order race for the past six years, the company recently acknowledged that Boeing is likely to overtake it this year.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has attributed part of Boeing’s resurgence to strong political backing from Washington, particularly during trade negotiations that included major aircraft purchases. The comments point to a broader reality in which aerospace competition is inseparable from geopolitics.

US President Donald Trump has openly claimed credit for boosting Boeing’s sales, boasting earlier this month that he received an award from the manufacturer for being “the greatest salesman in the history of Boeing.” Such remarks, while characteristically provocative, underscore the extent to which political influence plays a role in global aviation markets.

Airbus’s move away from Google is likely to resonate far beyond the aerospace sector. As one of Europe’s most strategically important corporations, Airbus often sets precedents that others quietly follow. Its decision sends a clear signal that data sovereignty is no longer an abstract policy goal but a practical business requirement.

For European policymakers, the move reinforces arguments for accelerating investment in homegrown cloud infrastructure. For US tech giants, it serves as a warning that legal jurisdiction and trust – not just performance and price – are becoming decisive factors in global cloud competition.

Ultimately, Airbus’s decision reflects a growing consensus in Europe: control over data is control over power. And in an era defined by digital dependency and geopolitical uncertainty, even the world’s largest aviation giant is unwilling to leave that power in foreign hands.

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