Space

Airbus becomes sole owner of AOS

Posted 29 January 2024

Airbus US Space & Defense, Inc. has announced completion of a deal with Eutelsat OneWeb to purchase its 50% share of the Airbus OneWeb Satellites (AOS) joint venture, making Airbus the sole owner of AOS and the satellite manufacturing facility in Merritt Island, Florida.

Image courtesy Airbus /

The new structure is expected to provide maximum efficiency and increased competitiveness for commercial, institutional and national security space customers.

Robert Geckle, Chairman and CEO, Airbus US Space & Defense, Inc. said: “This agreement furthers our position as a market leader in the small satellite constellation business, building on our successful partnership with OneWeb.

“We will continue mass producing small satellites for our customers and are excited for what the future holds for us on Florida’s Space Coast as we move forward.”

Airbus US Space & Defense recently retooled the Merritt Island factory to accomodate the Arrow450 production line and is starting an expansion project to meet increased demand for small satellites from commercial and government customers deepening the company’s presence in Florida.

The Airbus OneWeb Satellites joint venture, established in 2016, built more than 600 satellites at the rate of two per day for the OneWeb first generation constellation, currently operating on-orbit.

Space

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Space

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