Airbus Defence and Space will build the Aeolus-2 wind-monitoring satellite for the European Space Agency. Credit: Airbus Defence and Space
WASHINGTON — Airbus executives say the turnaround in the company’s space business came just in time to tap growing demand, particularly from Europe, for space capabilities as it pursues a joint venture with Thales and Leonardo.
Mike Schoellhorn, chief executive of Airbus Defence and Space, said at a July 21 business update that efforts to improve the performance of its space systems business unit were yielding benefits across the division as demand for its capabilities grows.
“There couldn’t have been a better time to fix the space business and to be ready for the significant orders and demand that we are currently seeing,” he said.
That demand is coming from both civil and defense customers. He cited record funding for the European Space Agency at last November’s ministerial conference, the IRIS² secure connectivity constellation being led by the European Commission and interest in military satellite systems.
