Kommentar: Ein SpaceX à la française kann nicht funktionieren
Die Megafusion der Satellitenhersteller Airbus, Leonardo und Thales ist erst der Anfang. Frankreich wird weitere Zusammenschlüsse wollen. Das kann nicht gut gehen.
A European champion akin to Airbus in the realm of space travel is a misguided notion, according to a recent commentary. The satellite divisions of Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales are set to merge, forming an industry colossus with 25,000 employees and generating €6.5 billion in revenue. The "Project Bromo" is slated for a decision by the EU's Competition Commission.
However, the primary issue appears to be moot. In recent years, the trio of companies found themselves in troubled waters, posting losses. The space boom now ensures saturated order books and profits. The problem lies not in the size of the trio, but in their modus operandi. All three entities emerged during an era when constructing satellites required painstaking craftsmanship and exorbitant costs.
Yet, in space, new business models such as data centers, mobile communications, or Earth observation are emerging, demanding rapid and affordable satellite production. Project France, as the driving force, draws inspiration from the European champion Airbus, which conquered global aviation with its aircraft. However, space is not a global market; China is off-limits, and America reserves its homegrown manufacturers.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
