“The agreement between Leonardo, Thales, and Airbus is a strategic step forward for strengthening Europe’s position in space — and for Italy, which can now play a leading role in the new industrial architecture taking shape,” said Giorgio Marsiaj, Confindustria’s delegate for aerospace, commenting on the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding that formalizes the creation of a new European space powerhouse.
The venture, expected to generate €6.5 billion in revenue and to become operational in 2027, will combine the space activities of the three groups.
“It’s a strong signal of vision and leadership,” Marsiaj noted, “and a concrete step toward a more integrated and competitive European space ecosystem. It also supports both European and national industrialization, fostering shared technological and production capabilities.”
The space sector continues to expand despite a slowdown in other industries: its global value could reach €1.6 trillion by 2035. In 2024, public investment totaled €122 billion, with Europe accounting for €12.6 billion (10%).
The next EU Multiannual Financial Framework is expected to allocate over €130 billion to defense, security, and space — five times the amount in the previous cycle.
“In this context,” Marsiaj concluded, “such an alliance represents a strategic lever for Europe and for Italy, which boasts a globally competitive space supply chain. Confindustria will continue supporting the aerospace sector to build a strong, innovative ecosystem that reinforces Italy’s position in Europe’s space economy.”