Europe Space Merger Talks Progress With Airbus, Thales, Leonardo

A trio of European aerospace companies are moving ahead with plans to forge a space and satellite venture that can better compete with Elon Musk’s dominant SpaceX.

Talks between Airbus SE, Thales SA of France and Italy’s Leonardo SpA are progressing on a three-way merger of the companies’ space divisions, said people familiar with the matter. The partners could announce the plan to move forward as soon as this month, though the time frame could slip, said the people, who asked not to be identified because negotiations are private.

The Airbus Defence and Space plant in Toulouse France.

Photographer: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Asked about the discussions on Tuesday, Airbus ...