Major European aerospace companies, including Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales, have announced plans to consolidate their space operations into a single entity aimed at enhancing competitiveness in the evolving space industry, particularly in response to the presence of firms like SpaceX. This initiative is being termed the “European Space Champion” and the new company will be headquartered in Toulouse, with expectations to employ approximately 25,000 staff and achieve an annual turnover of €6.5 billion (about $7.5 billion).
The collaboration will focus on several sectors, including space exploration, Earth observation, responses to space threats, and satellite navigation. Airbus executives indicated that while the new venture aims for long-term expansion in a growing market, inaction could pose significant risks.
The establishment of this unified business is seen as a strategic response to rapid advancements in the space sector, partly driven by increased investments from the United States and China. In a joint statement, the CEOs of the three firms described the new company as a pivotal milestone for Europe’s space sector. To address national interests, the new business will incorporate five national companies from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain.
The structure of the new entity is akin to the defence company MBDA, which also resulted from the merger of various national operations. An Airbus UK spokesperson underscored that collaboration among European nations is essential for maintaining job security in the long term, and Airbus currently has a significant presence in the UK space industry, employing around 3,100 in its Defence and Space divisions, mainly based in Portsmouth and Stevenage.
Airbus has stated that it does not plan to reduce jobs or sites in the UK as part of this initiative, emphasizing growth as the primary goal. SpaceX, established by Elon Musk in 2002, continues to be a significant competitor, having developed advanced space technology and securing contracts with NASA, including its role in the Artemis program aimed at lunar exploration.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1e3gn80v2wo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss