Airbus, Thales, Leonardo Launch Project Bromo

Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo have initiated discussions to establish a joint venture named 'Project Bromo' to compete with Elon Musk's Starlink in the space-based internet sector. This collaborative effort aims to create a standalone European satellite company modeled after the MBDA missile firm, consolidating existing satellite assets rather than pursuing acquisitions. The initiative responds to the pressing need for Europe to bolster its satellite capabilities in the face of Starlink's rapid growth and the industry's financial struggles. Although still in the early stages, this venture could take years to materialize and is separate from impending job cuts at Airbus, which plans to reduce its Defence and Space division workforce by 2,500 positions. Leonardo's CEO confirmed that the ongoing technical discussions are key to shaping the project, emphasizing the importance of satellites in the future space economy.