Pakistan, Oct. 23 -- In a landmark move for the European space industry, Airbus, Thales, and Italy's Leonardo have announced a major merger to form one of the continent's most powerful satellite and space technology companies. The deal, whose financial details remain undisclosed, aims to boost Europe's independence and competitiveness in a field increasingly dominated by global players such as Elon Musk's Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper.

The newly merged company will focus on enhancing Europe's "strategic autonomy in space," covering vital sectors including telecommunications, global navigation, earth observation, science, exploration, and national security. However, the agreement specifically excludes space launcher programs like A...