Airbus, Leonardo and Thales to form a joint venture.

Airbus, a major European aerospace corporation, Leonardo, a major Italian multinational company specializing in aerospace, defense and security, and Thales, a French multinational specializing in aerospace, defense, space, and cybersecurity technologies, agreed to form a joint venture, to unite and enhance capabilities by combining the three respective activities in satellite and space systems manufacturing and space services. Airbus will own 35% of the new business, while Leonardo and Thales will own 32.5% each. "This partnership aligns with the ambitions of European governments to strengthen their industrial and technological assets, ensuring Europe’s autonomy across the strategic space domain and its many applications. It offers employees the opportunity to be at the heart of this ambitious initiative, while benefiting from enhanced career prospects and the collective strength of the three industry leaders."