Raumfahrt: Europas Satellitenhersteller treiben Megafusion voran – obwohl ihr Weltraumgeschäft boomt
Schon bald wollen Airbus, Thales und Leonardo der EU ihre Pläne offiziell vorlegen. Die deutschen Konkurrenten sind besorgt und warnen vor einem Marktgiganten – wie Zahlen belegen.
München and Düsseldorf – Aerospace giants Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo are driving a major consolidation effort in the satellite industry, despite their parent companies suffering massive losses in the sector. Airbus' parent company, Defense and Space, reported a profit of around 800 million Euros last year, with forecasts suggesting it could reach up to 1.3 billion Euros by 2029.
The increase in demand for communication and reconnaissance technology by European governments is the main driver, with the German military alone planning to invest 35 billion Euros in space technology over the next few years. This trend is mirrored by European rivals Thales (France) and Leonardo (Italy), both of which reported increasing orders in the satellite business, despite the recent losses.
The three companies decided to merge their respective defense and space divisions, with the "Project Bromo" joint venture being planned since 2025. The deal is now awaiting approval from the EU Commission in Brussels, according to Thales CEO Lorenzo Mariani. The three companies plan to sign the binding framework agreement for the joint venture by the end of the year, with the EU expected to make a decision by mid-2027. However, the plans are not without controversy within the industry.
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