The chief executives of Airbus and Leonardo are pushing Brussels to approve their proposed pan-European space merger with Thales, arguing that consolidation was essential to compete against global rivals such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
“Without co-operation, European industries will never reach the critical mass and the capability to really be worldwide champions as an alternative not only to American companies but also as an alternative to many other players that are coming from the market,” Lorenzo Mariani, Leonardo’s recently appointed chief executive, told the FT.
The deal between the European aerospace group and the French and Italian companies, codenamed Bromo and struck in October last year, would combine activities spanning satellite manufacturing to space systems and services.