Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo are on the verge of announcing a major satellite industry merger that would unite their space divisions under a single European holding company, after minor delays pushed the planned reveal by one or two days.
The deal — dubbed Projet Bromo — aims to consolidate Europe’s fragmented satellite sector and build a strong competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink. Each company will hold about one-third of the new venture, which will take around two years to finalize, pending regulatory approval.
Sources familiar with the matter said the delay was purely procedural and did not signal new obstacles. “It’s ready, but the fine print takes time,” one insider said.
The merger would create the world’s top manufacturer of commercial geostationary satellites, according to Quilty Space, though that segment is shrinking as demand shifts toward low-Earth orbit networks.
Industry analysts say the move reflects a strategic necessity rather than an expansion gamble, as European satellite makers face sliding revenues and mounting competition from U.S. firms.
Leadership roles and governance are expected to be finalized after an initial period of standalone operation, but all parties are said to share a “strong commitment” to cooperation.
