Leonardo, Thales, and Airbus pursue space joint venture

European aerospace leaders are pursuing increased industrial cooperation to secure the continent's position in the global space race. Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani has described a joint venture between Leonardo, Thales, and Airbus, named ‘Bromo’, as essential for building a competitive European provider capable of meeting international market demands and developing resilient supply chains.

Mariani addressed concerns regarding market dominance, stating that the Bromo venture does not necessarily create a monopoly and that alternatives will continue to exist in various sectors. The consortium is currently in discussions with the European Commission to finalize project details, aiming to submit a proposal to antitrust authorities that requires minimal structural restrictions. The target start date for the venture is January 1, 2028.

This movement toward ‘coopetition’—a blend of cooperation and competition—is highlighted by major European programs such as Galileo, Copernicus, Clean Sky, and IRIS². Industry experts suggest that multilateral collaboration is the only viable path for Europe to achieve strategic autonomy and sovereignty in space amidst intensifying global competition and record-level global space spending.