The European space industry’s big merger: lessons for emerging space nations

The Oct. 23 announcement that Airbus, Thales and Leonardo will merge their satellite operations was a historic development for the European space industry. The plan aims to establish a new combined entity by 2027. Historically, the European space industry has been a competent but fragmented market in the form of national champions and competing initiatives. However, Intra-European competition is no longer tenable in the face of strong American and Chinese competitors. Against this backdrop, the merger signals an implicit recognition by European states that scale, specialization and consolidation have become preconditions for both survival and competitiveness in the global space sector. This could offer a case study for emerging space nations that are struggling to take off.