Airbus is positioning itself for Germany’s largest space project to date, the SATCOMBw 4 constellation, a defense communications system that could cost up to €10 billion. To win the contract for at least 100 low‑Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, the European aerospace group has offered to set up a final‑assembly line in Germany.
“We are ready to establish a new LEO satellite assembly line in Germany” said Wolfgang Dürr, head of Airbus’s institutional space business within the defense and aerospace division, in an interview with the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” Monday.
Airbus brings already proven serial‑manufacturing experience for LEO satellites, notably the OneWeb constellation for Eutelsat. A new final‑assembly line for an additional 440 OneWeb satellites will begin operation in Toulouse this Monday.
“Time is a critical factor, and we can react swiftly” Dürr added. He said that the planned transfer of the satellite unit into a joint venture with French rival Thales and Italian competitor Leonardo will not alter this capacity. “Regardless of that arrangement, we will continue to meet national requirements and maintain strong domestic capabilities” he emphasized.
“Our proposition for SATCOMBw 4 is that the essential value creation will be located in Germany” Dürr elaborated. In the earlier SATCOMBw 3 programme, for which Airbus secured the contract two years ago, more than two‑thirds of the satellites were built in Germany.
Other contenders for the SATCOMBw 4 contract may include a consortium comprising Düsseldorf‑based Rheinmetall and Bremen‑based OHB. The request for proposals is expected in the near future. Airbus currently employs roughly 9,000 people in space, about 3,600 of whom are based in Germany. According to CFO Thomas Toepfer, the once‑stretched defense and space division has achieved a “real turnaround”.
