Türkiye’s Baykar could collaborate with Italian defense giant Leonardo

Baykar, a Türkiye-based aerospace and defense technology company, has made headlines with its acquisition of Italy’s Piaggio Aerospace.

Known for its advancements in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, Baykar’s latest move signals broader ambitions in the global defense sector.

Adolfo Urso, Italy’s minister of industry and made in Italy, addressed the acquisition in the Italian Senate, emphasizing its strategic significance.

“The sale of Piaggio Aerospace to Baykar enables the revival of a crucial company and outlines a broader technological and industrial partnership between Italy and Türkiye,” Urso stated.

Baykar’s potential collaboration with Leonardo

Following the acquisition, discussions have surfaced about potential collaborations between Baykar and Leonardo, Italy‘s leading aerospace and defense company.

Urso highlighted this possibility, noting that Leonardo and other industry leaders could explore alliances to strengthen Italy’s aerospace sector and European Union leadership.

“Strengthening industrial relations between Italy and Türkiye is vital for our aviation sector. Baykar is an ideal partner to reinforce these ties,” Urso added.

Leonardo, a global player in aerospace, defense, and security technologies, is partially owned by the Italian government, holding a 30.2% stake. The company, originally established in 1948 as Finmeccanica, rebranded in 2017 to enhance its global identity.

Strategic implications for Türkiye-Italy relations

This development marks a significant step in deepening Türkiye-Italy industrial relations, particularly in the defense and aviation sectors.

Baykar’s involvement may catalyze further collaborations on shared projects, fostering technological exchange and bolstering European defense initiatives.

Baykar’s acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace

Turkish defense and aerospace company Baykar announced its acquisition of Italy’s Piaggio Aerospace, a storied aviation firm with a 140-year legacy.

The strategic move signifies Baykar’s ambition to expand its operations beyond UAVs into manned aviation, jet engine production, and civilian aerospace markets and of course, to space.

Piaggio Aerospace, known for its contributions to advanced military and civilian aircraft, jet engines, and reconnaissance UAVs, brings decades of engineering experience to Baykar.

This acquisition not only enhances Baykar’s capabilities but also positions it to play a more prominent role in the European defense and aviation markets as they can now directly get funding through the European system.

The acquisition will further solidify relations between Türkiye and Italy.

It is a great example of “how to do a business” for Baykar to buy a 140-year-old company with know-how instead of building a jet production facility from scratch. For Baykar, this acquisition means immediate access to advanced manufacturing capabilities, engineering talent, and a library of technical data and designs.

This knowledge-sharing will not only streamline production but also help Baykar avoid the common pitfalls often encountered by newcomers in manned aviation.

This deal could also strengthen Türkiye-Italy relations, fostering collaboration not only in defense and aviation but also in broader industrial sectors.