Airbus, Leonardo and Thales Join Forces Under One Roof: 25,000 Employees and €65 Billion Turnover
Europe’s aerospace and defence giants Airbus, Leonardo and Thales have announced their intention to merge key operations under a single umbrella company. Together, the new entity will bring together approximately 25,000 employees and aim for an annual turnover of around €65 billion, establishing a leading global player in the sector.
The joint initiative aims to streamline and enhance collaboration across aerospace, defence and security activities, combining the unique strengths of each group. According to an official statement, Airbus will contribute its space systems and digital space business, Leonardo will integrate its space division including its stakes in Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space, while Thales will bring in its holdings in Thales Alenia Space, Telespazio and the space-related systems unit SESO.
The new company is planned to be operational by 2027, subject to regulatory approvals. Governance will be jointly controlled with equal representation, and the consolidation is expected to generate annual operating synergies of several hundred million euros within five years after launch. The underlying goal is to strengthen Europe’s strategic industrial autonomy, deepen innovation capability in critical technologies and improve competitiveness against global rivals.
The combined portfolio will cover infrastructure, advanced systems and full end-to-end services (excluding launchers), delivering solutions for telecommunications, navigation, earth observation, scientific missions and defence. The move comes amid mounting pressure from low-cost, large-scale players in space and reflects a strategic shift toward integration and scale.
From the companies’ perspective, the merger not only expands their commercial reach, but also reinforces resilience in a volatile geopolitical and economic environment. By pooling talent, research & development, procurement and manufacturing capabilities, the group aims to deliver enhanced value for shareholders, customers, employees and partner ecosystems.
