Airbus, Thales, Leonardo form European space giant amid global contest
Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo have announced a major merger of their space operations to form a new European space company employing 25,000 people and generating about €6.5 billion annually, with operations expected to begin by 2027. The venture, designed to rival competitors like Elon Musk’s Starlink, aims to enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy in space across key areas such as telecommunications, navigation, earth observation, and national security. Airbus will hold a 35% stake, while Thales and Leonardo will each hold 32.5%, operating under joint control. The merger is projected to create hundreds of millions of euros in annual synergies within five years and will consolidate the partners’ existing space assets, including Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio. Despite past EU antitrust concerns, the firms argue the move is vital for Europe to remain competitive globally and to secure its position as a major player in the international space market.