German space technology company OHB has purchased the remaining 30 percent stake in MT Aerospace from Apollo Capital Partners, completing a full takeover of the Augsburg-based company.
MT Aerospace is a German aerospace manufacturer that designs and manufactures lightweight metal and composite structures for launch vehicles, satellites, and defence systems. The company is one of the Ariane 6 programme’s largest contractors, responsible for key components, including the cryogenic storage tanks and structures for the boosters, upper stage, and core stage.
In June 2005, OHB and investment firm Apollo Capital Partners purchased MAN Technologie, a subsidiary of Germany’s MAN Group. Following the acquisition, the company was renamed MT Aerospace. OHB initially secured a 40 percent stake, with a further 30 percent held in trust for the company’s benefit. The reason for this trust arrangement is not entirely clear, but by the third quarter of 2005, OHB reported that it had “acquired” the remaining portion, giving the company its full 70 percent stake. Apollo Capital, for its part, retained the other 30 percent.
On 29 October 2025, OHB announced that it had purchased the remaining 30 percent stake in MT Aerospace from Apollo Capital Partners, becoming the company’s sole shareholder.
“With its products and services, the company has been a reliable partner for decades, not only for the European aerospace industry but also for the defense industry,” said OHB CEO Marco Fuchs. “We are convinced that our position as the single shareholder will make it easier for us to strengthen our position in the growing defense market.”
In late September, MT Aerospace announced a major contract with ArianeGroup for the delivery of key components for 27 Ariane 6 rockets, covering flights 16 to 42. The company is also developing carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic tanks for the PHOEBUS initiative, which aims to equip the Block 2 variant of the Ariane 6 rocket with a lighter, more capable upper stage. This variant of the rocket is expected to be introduced in 2026.
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