Airbus Group SEAirbus seeks buyers for its US space unit amid restructuring and €989 million charges in 2024.
Airbus is gauging interest from prospective buyers for its U.S. space business, according to The Financial Times, as part of a broader strategy to create a new pan-European entity to better compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX and Chinese rivals. The unit, which operates a factory in Florida and produces the Arrow family of small satellites, is estimated to generate several hundred million dollars in annual sales, though Airbus does not publicly disclose its revenue. The Merritt Island facility employs more than 200 people, a fraction of the 11,000 workers in Airbus's global space operations. The divestment plans are separate from the proposed Bromo joint venture with Italy's Leonardo and France's Thales, which aims to rival Starlink and Chinese players. Airbus declined to comment on market rumors, but the sale comes as the company seeks to revive its underperforming space business, which incurred €989 million in charges in 2024.
Airbus Group SEAirbus seeks buyers for its US space unit amid restructuring and €989 million charges in 2024.
Leonardo SpALeonardo is part of the proposed Bromo JV with Airbus and Thales, which could strengthen its space business.
Thales S.A.Thales is part of the proposed Bromo JV, potentially benefiting from consolidation in the space sector.