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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World
RFI

European space giants plan new satellite powerhouse to take on Starlink

A satellite in development at Airbus's production site in Toulouse, France, on 11 February 2025. © Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP

Airbus, Leonardo and Thales have unveiled plans for a new European satellite group headquartered in France – a landmark alliance aimed at bolstering Europe’s space ambitions and taking on global heavyweights such as Elon Musk’s Starlink.

After months of negotiations, the three European aerospace giants signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding on Thursday to create a jointly owned satellite company that could be fully operational by 2027.

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