Airbus, Leonardo, Thales Joint Venture: European Space Champion

Space travel in Europe Airbus, Leonardo and Thales forge European space champion

2025-10-28 From Susanne Braun | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

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

Airbus, Thales and Leonardo establish a joint venture for space travel.(Image: Dall-E / AI-generated) — Airbus, Thales and Leonardo establish a joint venture for space travel.
(Image: Dall-E / AI-generated)

Airbus, Leonardo and Thales announced on October 23, 2025 their intention to combine their space activities in a new joint venture comprising more than 25,000 employees. With an annual turnover of around €6.5 billion (end 2024, pro forma) and an order book equivalent to more than three years of projected turnover, this new company will strengthen Europe's competitiveness and technological independence in the global space market.

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 brought together under this joint umbrella in future. Subject to regulatory approvals, the new company is expected to be operational by 2027. Airbus will then hold 35 percent, Leonardo and Thales 32.5 percent each. The aim is to create an integrated European player that bundles research, development and production and leverages synergies of several hundred million euros per year in order to stabilize Europe's space industry in the long term. (sb)

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Date: 08.12.2025

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