As Agile as a Three-Headed Satellite Giant

The grand European dance of aerospace consolidation is upon us once more. Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo, three titans of the sky, are whispering sweet nothings about merging their satellite divisions into a singular, formidable entity. Because, clearly, when facing nimble, innovative competitors like Elon Musk’s Starlink, the best strategy is to form a colossal conglomerate.

For years, Europe’s satellite scene has been a cozy duopoly. On one side, Airbus Defence & Space; on the other, the Franco-Italian “Space Alliance” of Thales Alenia Space (67% Thales, 33% Leonardo) and Telespazio (67% Leonardo, 33% Thales).