The Airbus, Thales and Leonardo are moving forward with the creation of a new European consortium to consolidate satellite activities, with the aim of boosting Europe‘s competitiveness against giants such as Starlink‘s Elon Musk.

At the same time, the company is looking for a way to make the most of the new technology.

The deal, which is expected to come into force in 2027, is subject to approval by European regulators. The new company will employ 25,000 people and operate under joint control, with Airbus holding 35% and Thales and Leonardo 32.5% each.

The partnership is expected to generate hundreds of millions of euros in annual synergies five years after its launch.

The venture, known as Project Bromo, follows the model of successful European rocket maker MBDA (owned by Airbus, Leonardo and BAE Systems) and aims to ensure Europe’s strategic autonomy in the space sector.

European conglomerates are seeking to counter growing competition from new companies building small, cheap low-orbit satellites that have made traditional geostationary orbit systems obsolete.

Consolidation is seen as key to strengthening Europe’s presence in the satellite industry and ensuring technological independence at a time when the market is dominated by private players and rapidly evolving low-orbit technologies.