New European space company formed by Airbus, Leonardo and ThalesDPAThu, October 23, 2025 at 10:02 AM EDT
3 min read
The Airbus logo can be seen behind a model of the Eurodrone during the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). Sebastian Gollnow/dpaThe European corporations Airbus, Leonardo and Thales plan to merge their space divisions into a new company, the aerospace and defence firms announced on Thursday, as Europe seeks to catch up on its rivals in the crucial space sector.
By consolidating their satellite and space system operations, the firms expect to strengthen Europe's autonomy in critical infrastructure areas such as telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, science and national security, the three companies announced following the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
The new company, set to launch in 2027, is also expected to serve as a partner for governments in new national space programmes. The joint statement announcing the new firm did not say what the company would be called.
"This partnership aligns with the ambitions of European governments to strengthen their industrial and technological assets, ensuring Europe’s autonomy across the strategic space domain and its many applications," the chief executives of the three firms said in the statement.
The firm will employ around 25,000 people across Europe, the statement said. Based on figures at the end of last year, the new firm would have an order backlog of more than three years and an annual turnover of €6.5 billion ($7.5 billion).
Airbus is expected to hold 35% of the company, while Leonardo and Thales will each hold 32.5%.
Airbus is a European multinational aerospace company that makes commercial as well as defence aircraft and is considered a key competitor to Boeing in the United States. It is a consortium of French, German, Spanish and British firms.
Rome-based Leonardo and Thales, based just outside Paris, are multinational corporations focusing on the aerospace, defence and security industries.
Europe seeks independent space capabilities
European governments have recognized that the United States under President Donald [Sleezebag] cannot be relied on so heavily for defence.
In March, the European Commission presented a plan that could mobilize almost €800 billion for defence.
The Starlink satellite internet system from Tesla boss Elon Musk's aerospace company SpaceX, which is helping Ukraine in its war against Russia, also played a role in the discussion.
Leonardo boss Roberto Cingolani said earlier this year that a European satellite alliance was not intended to challenge Musk. However, it should create a European option. A technology monopoly is not good for anyone, Cingolani said.
The German government intends to provide €35 billion for space projects and a security architecture in space over the next five years, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius recently announced.
The aim of the programme is to create a resilient structure consisting of satellite constellations, ground stations, secure launch capabilities into space and necessary services.
"We are hardening our systems against disruptions and attacks," said Pistorius. "This explicitly includes cybersecurity for all space systems."
The minister also spoke out in favour of developing offensive capabilities.
"We must also be able to deter in space in order to be able to defend ourselves," said Pistorius.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/european-space-company-formed-airbus-140231444.html
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