Airbus, OneWeb Form JV To Design, Build OneWeb's LEO Constellation

Airbus Defense and Space and OneWeb formed a joint venture, OneWeb Satellites, to design and build the 900 low-earth orbit satellites OneWeb needs for its planned global broadband constellation, they said in a news release Tuesday. Brian Holz, OneWeb vice president-satellite, launch and fleet operations, will be CEO of the equally owned joint venture, which will be able to build satellites and equipment marketed by Airbus to other operators of future constellations, the companies said. OneWeb Satellites' design work and the manufacture of the first 10 flight models will take place in Toulouse, France, they said, saying launches by Arianespace and Virgin Galactic are expected to start in 2018.