Thu, 23 Oct 2025

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 European firms unite in bid to rival SpaceX

Sources from Airbus said "doing nothing would be the biggest risk at this stage".

* Key European aerospace firms Airbus, Leonardo and Thales are forming a single business, dubbed "European Space Champion", in response to growing competition from companies like SpaceX.
* The new company will be headquartered in Toulouse, France, employ around 25,000 people, and have an annual turnover of €6.5bn ($7.5bn).
* The firms will pool their interests in space exploration, earth observation, space threats, and satellite navigation to compete more effectively in the rapidly developing space industry.
* The new company will include five national companies: one in each of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain, to protect national interests where necessary.
* Airbus UK has 3,100 employees working on space operations in the country, with no plans to reduce jobs or sites as a result of the merger.
* The move aims to secure long-term growth in the space industry, with the firms citing the emergence of SpaceX and increased spending by the US and China as major factors driving the need for collaboration.
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