Airbus, Leonardo, Thales plan unified European space company employing 25,000

Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales have agreed to merge their space activities into a new company headquartered in Toulouse, aiming to strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy in space and create a competitive rival to SpaceX. This consolidation will pool their technologies, resources, and expertise to accelerate innovation and enhance Europe's presence in telecommunications, global navigation, earth observation, science, exploration, and national security sectors. The new company will employ around 25,000 people, generate approximately €6.5 billion in annual revenue, and is expected to achieve mid triple-digit million euros in operating income within five years through efficiency gains and cost savings. Ownership will be divided with Airbus holding 35%, and Leonardo and Thales each holding 32.5%, following a model similar to the MBDA missile consortium. The partnership reflects a strategic move to unify Europe's space industry, reduce redundancies, and bolster its sovereignty and security in a market increasingly dominated by global competitors like SpaceX. The merger does not anticipate job cuts, with each country's industrial footprint preserved, highlighting a focus on growth and innovation rather than downsizing.