Airbus, Leonardo and Thales Partner for European Space Communications
Airbus, Leonardo and Thales have signed an MoU to combine their space operations into a new joint company, creating a unified European leader in satellite systems and space-based telecom infrastructure.
For telecoms, the new entity will integrate each company’s satellite manufacturing, network systems and service capabilities, effectively consolidating Europe’s fragmented space communications landscape. This includes Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio, key suppliers of geostationary and low-Earth-orbit (LEO) communications platforms, and Airbus Space Systems, a major player in next-generation secure and broadband satellites.
The aim is to strengthen European strategic autonomy in critical infrastructure from sovereign satellite broadband and defence communications to future Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) services underpinning 5G and 6G. Pooling resources across the three groups is expected to generate hundreds of millions of euros in annual synergies and accelerate the development of multi-orbit, integrated networks linking space and terrestrial telecom systems.
Expected to be operational by 2027, the joint venture will employ around 25,000 people and generate an estimated €6.5 billion in annual revenue, positioning Europe to compete more directly with U.S. and emerging Asian space-telecom players.