European space is entering a difficult period for its two largest manufacturers, Airbus Defense and Space ( ADS ) and Thales Elenia Space ( TAS ). Both are committed to eliminating a number of positions, up to 1,300 at TAS and 2,500 at ADS. We take stock.
European space ambassadors to whom we owe the European ATV cargo ship, historic space probes for planetary exploration, but also numerous satellites. Weather reportWeather report AndEarth observationEarth observation (Copernicus), both Project managersProject managers ADS and TAS are in trouble.
Any or all redundancies
Let’s be sure, redundancies can be limited. Most of the positions to be eliminated will be linked to unchanged retirements, or transferred to other branches of the group. It should be noted that the workforce reduction in ADS is also related to the defense sector (ADS has a total of 35,000 employees, including 7,000 in France).
Contacted by Futura, ADS central union representative Thierry Préfol told us that “ On ADS’ latest social ventures, we’ve so far avoided redundancy. But the administration is working on it. “Subject to achieving savings objectives ».
The fear is above all of future workload for ADS and TAS employees. Thierry Parfoul makes us especially aware of our fear of losing our potential. In addition, the heavy workload may encourage employees to leave to pursue their careers with new space players.
Face the SpaceX Steamroller
This is an unprecedented situation. ADS and TAS regularly fall on hard times, but this is the first time they have done so at the same time. The same is the case with Boeing’s space arm. Airbus and Thales are currently in talks to merge their space activities.
Today everyone blames one failed condition: not taking SpaceXSpaceX seriously” No one believed », confirms Thierry Préfol. As a result, traditional users of ADS and TAS, which specialize in telecommunications from geostationary orbit, are losing customers to SpaceX’s low-orbit mega-constellation Starlink, which has more recently been launched by airlines United and Air France. benefiting more than
As for Airbus Defense and Space, we have reached more than 1.5 billion euros in cumulative losses over the past year. Thierry Préfol explains that these losses also come from certain projects that were based on absurd promises (without citing them). This is particularly the case with Eurofighter fighter jets and satellite platforms. One WebOne WebIt is very expensive compared to StarlinkStarlink.
