Europe is taking a decisive step to avoid being left behind in the space race, with an industrial alliance that seeks to compete head-to-head with the SpaceX constellation. The plan is to Airbus, Thales and Leonardo unite their satellite divisions and associated services to create a top-tier European player capable of challenging Starlink in low orbit.
Beyond the technological pulse, the movement has a strong strategic component: reinforcing the digital sovereignty and autonomy of the region in communications, defense and Earth observationThe new company aims to begin operations in 2027, provided it passes approval from key governments and scrutiny from EU regulators.
A historic merger to compete in low orbit
The decision to pool capabilities comes after months of negotiations and responds to a market that has changed completely with the emergence of constellations in LEO. The project, known internally as Bromo Project, is inspired by successful European defense cooperation models to accelerate industrial response to highly agile competitors.
For years, European manufacturers excelled in complex geostationary orbit satellites, but the shift to massive, low-cost constellations in low orbit has imposed new rules. Starlink now has more than 6.000 satellites and continues to deploy capacity at a pace that forces Europe to coordinate if it wants to maintain its influence in global connectivity.
The perimeter of the merger is conceived with a political and industrial balance so that no country concentrates all the power. This distributed footprint It aims to strengthen European leadership and increase scale without neglecting the interests of France, Italy, Germany, or the United Kingdom on the space scene.
Share distribution, governance and schedule
Control of the new entity will be distributed almost equally: Airbus would have 35%, while Thales and Leonardo would each hold 32,5%. A joint control regime with a balanced governance structure will be implemented to ensure swift decision-making and consensus on major investments.
For the plan to get going, the support of the governments of France, Italy, United Kingdom and Germany, in addition to the European Union's competition analysis. These regulatory steps will be crucial in determining the final scope and pace of business and workforce integration.
If the deadlines are met, the resulting company would start operations in 2027. Industry sources point out that, despite governance and valuation obstacles During the summer, the parties reached an agreement in principle that allows progress to be made on the corporate design and industrial plan.
Employment, synergies and integrated businesses
The new company will add around 25.000 professionals across Europe, and based on recent figures, it is expected to reach approximately €6.500 billion in annual revenue. This scale provides the muscle to compete on price, lead times, and mass production capacity.
The companies foresee relevant operational synergies, with triple-digit results improvements in millions of euros Once the integration is complete, starting in five years. Scale and standardization will be key to consolidating a competitive portfolio of next-generation satellites and associated services.
The perimeter will include the activities of Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio (the joint ventures of Thales and Leonardo), as well as Airbus's space and digital businesses, Leonardo's remaining space assets, and the Thales SESO unit. The aim is to concentrate manufacturing and services capabilities in communications, observation, and defense under a single umbrella.
In the labor field, companies had already undertaken a combined cut of about 3.000 gastro stands in the space segment. No new adjustments have been announced at this stage, and unions will be consulted as the project progresses, always with the aim of preserving critical talent in Europe.
Objective: European sovereignty and less dependence on Starlink
The underlying motivation is clear: reduce dependence on external networks to ensure resilient connectivity on the continent. A robust European constellation would strengthen security of supply and support public policies on rural connectivity, critical services, and emergency response.
In addition to communications, this spatial architecture would serve as a platform for defense, security and navigation, reducing vulnerabilities to international tensions or trade blockades. Technological autonomy is gaining ground in a context of more unstable markets and strained supply chains.
In technological terms, the consortium wants to accelerate developments in low orbit and transmission, where the gap with the United States and China has widened. The deployment of new generations, such as the Starlink V3 satellites, raises the bar for capacity and cost per gigabit, demanding greater industrial agility from Europe.
The success of the transaction will depend on adjusting different corporate cultures, prioritizing investments, and executing quickly. If the merger is successful, the region could reposition itself in the space economy and gain its own voice among global private networks, both in the civil and government markets.
With the project on track and a demanding schedule, the Airbus-Thales-Leonardo alliance aims to provide Europe with the scale and speed to compete with Starlink, combining balanced governance, operational synergies and focus on sovereignty as pillars for the new space cycle.
