Italy and France Launch Major Satellite Factory to Boost Europe’s Space Industry
Italy’s space agency and Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Italy’s Leonardo and France’s Thales, will begin operations at one of Europe’s largest satellite manufacturing centres by the end of this year. The new site, located on the outskirts of Rome, marks a key step in Europe’s bid to compete more effectively with the space industries of the United States and China.
Europe’s New “Space Smart Factory”
The 21,000-square-metre (226,000-square-foot) facility, known as the Space Smart Factory, represents an investment of about €100 million ($117 million). It was funded through a combination of EU post-COVID recovery funds and private investment from Thales Alenia Space (TAS). The plant is designed to produce around 100 satellites each year, greatly expanding Europe’s capacity for space manufacturing.
“The satellites market is one we cannot miss. We need to be part of it starting from now,” said Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani at the inauguration ceremony. “Our aim is to become global players.”
TAS President and CEO Herve Derrey added that the new facility will significantly strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. “The Space Smart Factory will increase Thales Alenia Space’s production capacity and global competitiveness. It will support European and national programmes, as well as the main future space ventures of our continent,” he said.
Driving Innovation and Collaboration
The new plant will bring together around 150 small and medium enterprises from across the space sector and will produce dual-use satellites for both civilian and defence purposes. It will also play a central role in building Italy’s upcoming low-orbit satellite constellation, which will require more than 100 satellites for national security and communication uses, according to Italian Space Agency President Teodoro Valente.
European Industry Consolidation on the Horizon
The launch of the Rome facility coincides with broader efforts to consolidate Europe’s fragmented satellite industry. Leonardo and Thales, which also jointly own Telespazio, are currently in talks with Airbus to create a unified European satellite manufacturing powerhouse capable of rivaling US and Chinese players such as SpaceX.
“We are working on it. It could be a matter of days or weeks,” said Cingolani. “The boards of the companies are looking at the numbers. I really hope we can do it.”
If successful, the new partnerships and manufacturing capabilities could position Europe as a major force in the global satellite market, ensuring technological autonomy and competitiveness in an increasingly strategic sector.
with inputs from Reuters
