ROME (Reuters) - Leonardo is working with France's Thales and Airbus for a "new strategic vision" in the space sector, the head of the Italian aerospace and defence group said on Tuesday.

CEO Roberto Cingolani made the comments during a hearing in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of parliament.

Airbus and Thales are exploring a tie-up of some space activities as new competition disrupts the sector, two industry sources said on Monday, with preliminary talks focusing on their overlapping satellite activities.

Leonardo and Thales already operate together in the space sector through two separate joint ventures, satellite services company Telespazio and space manufacturer Thales Alenia Space.