Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales are forging a European space champion

Space Exploration in Europe Airbus, Leonardo and Thales are Forging a European Space Champion

2025-11-11 From Susanne Braun | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

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The three European companies Thales, Airbus, and Leonardo have agreed, as part of a joint declaration, to consolidate their respective space activities into a new company employing around 25,000 people across Europe.

Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo are founding a joint company for space exploration.(Image: Dall-E / AI-generated) — Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo are founding a joint company for space exploration.
(Image: Dall-E / AI-generated)

Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales announced on October 23, 2025, their intention to consolidate their space activities into a new joint venture, which will encompass more than 25,000 employees. With annual revenues of approximately €6.5 billion (approx. 7.5 billion USD, end of 2024, pro forma) and an order backlog exceeding three years of the projected revenue, this new company aims to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and technological independence in the global space market.

Under this joint umbrella, the satellite, system, and service solutions of the existing space units of Airbus Defence and Space, Leonardo Space Division, Thales Alenia Space, Telespazio, and Thales SESO are to be consolidated in the future. Subject to regulatory approvals, the new company is expected to become operational by 2027. Airbus will hold a 35 percent stake, while Leonardo and Thales will each hold 32.5 percent. The goal is to create an integrated European player that combines research, development, and production, tapping into synergies worth several hundred million euros per year to stabilize Europe's space industry in the long term.
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Date: 08.12.2025

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