Annual rank97
Germany · Industrials
OHB
Develops complete satellite systems and missions, space-access infrastructure, and data-driven applications and digital services.
FY2022–FY2025
FY2022–FY2025
FY2022–FY2025
current context only
Company profile
Build the spacecraft, enable the launch and use the data
OHB is a Bremen-headquartered group of about 4,000 people at 18 locations. Its three segments span spacecraft, access to space, and digital ground and data services. The distinctive feature is a network model: OHB System, OHB Italia, OHB Sweden, MT Aerospace and digital subsidiaries take different prime, supplier, operations or application roles across European programmes.
Navigation, weather and Earth observation
Separate prime, platform, builder and operator roles across four constellations
OHB System was prime contractor for 34 first-generation Galileo satellites, with 30 in orbit by December 2025. For MTG-S1 it built the Sounder satellite and the platforms used across six MTG spacecraft, while Thales Alenia Space led the wider industrial consortium and EUMETSAT manages mission control and data distribution. Eight new OHB Italia satellites expanded the optical-and-AIS Eaglet II constellation to 16; OHB Sweden is prime contractor to deliver 20 satellites for EPS-Sterna.
- Follow the Galileo production record OHB System's prime role and the first-generation satellites in orbit
- See how MTG-S1 divides responsibilities Sounder, platform, consortium-lead and operator roles
- Open the IRIDE Eaglet II constellation Eight new OHB Italia satellites expanding Eaglet II to 16
- Explore EPS-Sterna OHB Sweden's contract to deliver 20 polar-weather satellites
- ▶ VideoWatch CO2M track human emissions Official English OHB film on observing anthropogenic carbon dioxide from space
Science and exploration
Move from exoplanets to gravitational waves and planetary defence
LISA gives OHB System its first prime-contractor role on an ESA large-class science mission: it will build three spacecraft for gravitational-wave detection under an €839 million contract. OHB System led PLATO's thermal-vacuum campaign, a pre-launch test for the 26-camera exoplanet observatory. OHB Italia is prime contractor for the RAMSES spacecraft, OHB System performs structural integration and OHB Czechspace supplies additional support structures; for Argonaut, OHB System supplies three LDE subsystems under Thales Alenia Space Italy.
- Read the LISA programme record Three spacecraft and OHB System's first ESA L-class prime role
- Enter PLATO's space-simulation campaign Thermal-vacuum testing before the exoplanet observatory leaves Earth
- Build the RAMSES probe The distinct roles of OHB Italia, OHB System and OHB Czechspace
- See OHB System's Argonaut subsystems Navigation, communications and power work beneath the lander prime
- Open the planetary-defence programme How Hera experience feeds the next asteroid mission
- ▶ VideoWatch the Hera spacecraft come together Official English OHB film from the asteroid probe's assembly campaign
Access to space
Supply Ariane hardware without claiming the launcher
MT Aerospace, wholly owned since October 2025, supplies cryogenic tanks, structures and booster hardware accounting for about 10% of Ariane 6. ArianeGroup remains the launcher's lead contractor and design authority; MT Aerospace's 2025 series order covers structural components and tanks for Ariane 6 flight models 16–42. MT Aerospace Guyane, MT Aerospace AG's separate Kourou subsidiary, maintains launch infrastructure and supports propulsion, ground and campaign services for Ariane and Vega.
- Map the Access to Space segment Launcher hardware, spaceport operations and the companies behind them
- Inspect MT Aerospace hardware Tanks, structures, boosters and spacecraft components
- See the four-booster Ariane 6 fly OHB's current account of MT Aerospace's industrial workshare
- Open the flight-model series order Series production of structural components and tanks for Ariane 6
- Check the ArianeGroup boundary Lead contractor and design authority versus MT's component scope
- Go inside Kourou operations Infrastructure, propulsion, ground systems and launch campaigns
Ground systems and digital services
Operate the mission, improve the data and turn it into decisions
OHB Digital Connect operates satellites through its Multi-Mission Control Center and has upgraded ground stations for Germany's SATCOMBw system. It is also developing AI super-resolution for MTG-I1 weather data. In the Urban View Demonstrator, OHB Digital Services leads work on urban green spaces while Digital Connect focuses on heat-island analysis, preserving the distinction between the two subsidiaries.
- Map the Digital segment Ground systems, satellite operations and downstream applications
- Use the Multi-Mission Control Center A modular service for single satellites and constellations
- Upgrade military ground stations OHB Digital Connect's completed SATCOMBw ground-station upgrade
- Sharpen weather data with AI Super-resolution work for MTG-I1 satellite imagery
- Separate the Urban View roles Green-space and heat-island work assigned to different subsidiaries
- ▶ VideoWatch satellite operations as a service Official English OHB film inside the Multi-Mission Control Center
Official profile sources: About the Company: Who We Are · The OHB Story · Space Systems
Current 2026 update
What is changing at OHB in 2026?
OHB is turning its network model into three repeatable systems: weather-satellite platforms, partner-built defence architectures and European launch access.
The change in one sentence
Flight heritage, coalition design and launcher industrialisation now sit at three different levels of maturity.
MTG-I2 is in orbit but commissioning remains; the defence ventures are formed but not awarded; RFA has a signed Block 2 contract while Test Flight 1 has not occurred.
Four lenses on 2026
The same four-quadrant format used in the Company profile.
01 · Repeatable weather platforms
A third MTG satellite reaches orbit; commissioning and a stored replacement cycle come next
MTG-I2 launched on Ariane 6 on 27 August at 22:11 CEST and separated into geostationary transfer orbit about 36 minutes later; OHB confirmed success in a release published on 28 August. All three satellites of the first MTG operational constellation are now in orbit, but I2 still has to enter operational service. OHB was a major contributor under Thales Alenia Space's overall prime contractorship: responsible for all six satellite platforms, four FCI telescope assemblies and overall delivery of the two IRS instruments, and prime contractor for the two MTG-S satellites and sounder mission. The industrial sources describe the core payload boundary differently but compatibly: OHB's programme material says Thales France supplied the interferometer and detection assembly, while Thales says it developed, assembled, integrated and tested that main-payload scope. I1 and S1 were already operating reliably. Once I2 enters service, the issuer says the full Earth disc can be imaged every ten minutes and Europe every 2.5 minutes. Three replacement platforms and a future IRS instrument are stored for later satellites, showing lifecycle continuity without implying present revenue.
- Current signalLaunch: 27 August · OHB release: 28 August · commissioning pending · three replacement platforms stored
- Why it mattersOHB's work spans repeatable platforms, instruments, prime responsibility for one satellite family and lifecycle preparation rather than a single bespoke spacecraft.
- MTG-I2 launch and role map OHB · 28 August 2026
- MTG sounder payload roles Thales Alenia Space · 2 July 2025
02 · Defence-space coalitions
Rheinmetall and KIRK assemble two different architectures before any evidenced programme award
OHB and Rheinmetall established a Bremen joint venture whose goal is to address SATCOMBw Phase 4 from development and integration through delivery, operation, IT security and a cyber-operations centre. The release positions the venture for that role but does not evidence a Bundeswehr award or delivered network. Separately, OHB and Helsing established KIRK and jointly lead a consortium with HENSOLDT and Kongsberg for tactical space surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition. OHB contributes turnkey space systems and payloads; Helsing AI processing, HENSOLDT sensors, and Kongsberg end-to-end and ground-system capabilities. This second system is under development; no government order, satellite constellation or operating targeting network is reported.
- Current signalTwo joint ventures · four named KIRK partners · evidenced government programme awards: none
- Why it mattersOHB is designing its place inside military communications and reconnaissance systems before procurement outcomes determine which architecture becomes a programme.
- SATCOMBw-oriented joint venture OHB · 11 June 2026
- KIRK tactical-space consortium OHB · 19 May 2026
- H1 programme and RFA report OHB · 6 August 2026
03 · Launch access on two tracks
RFA has a pending first test flight and a signed ESA industrialisation contract — not a launch result
OHB's H1 report lists a 56.8% equity interest in Rocket Factory Augsburg and marks RFA as non-consolidated; the 27 August release describes OHB as a strategic investor. The stake is a majority equity interest, but neither wholly owned nor consolidated. H1 says RFA applied for Test Flight 1 approval from SaxaVord, integrated nine individually hot-fire-qualified engines into the first stage and planned the flight later in 2026. No launch had occurred by the cutoff. On 27 August, RFA separately signed an ESA European Launcher Challenge contract to enter the second procurement phase. Running through mid-2029, it focuses on RFA ONE Block 2 development, ground infrastructure and preparation for scalable serial production. The flight-test path and Block 2 contract path are distinct. OHB/MT Aerospace's Ariane 6 components and infrastructure are another separate industrial role.
- Current signalNine qualified engines integrated · Test Flight 1 pending · ESA Block 2 contract through mid-2029
- Why it mattersNear-term flight risk and longer-term industrialisation support are different milestones in the effort to create more independent European launch capacity.
- H1 programme and RFA report OHB · 6 August 2026
- RFA Block 2 industrialisation contract OHB · 27 August 2026
04 · What to watch
Three questions for the next disclosures
The next evidence should convert an orbit insertion, two pre-award coalitions and a launcher contract into operational or procurement milestones.
- MTG commissioningDoes MTG-I2 enter operational service, and do later accounts preserve OHB's platform/instrument roles under Thales's overall prime?
- Defence awardsDoes either joint venture receive a government programme award or disclose a delivered, operating capability?
- RFA milestonesDoes Test Flight 1 occur, and are its results kept separate from milestone activity under the ESA Block 2 contract?
Annual record
Ranking history
Future editions add rows; they do not rewrite the 2026 record.
| Edition | Measurement period | Rank | Revenue growth | Net-income growth | Stock return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | FY2022–FY2025 | 97 | +29% | +55% | +276% |