Leonardo, Baykar eye strategic UAV alliance to challenge global drone market

Italian defense giant Leonardo and Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar are reportedly in talks for a potential strategic partnership, as defense sector ties between Italy and Türkiye continue to strengthen.

Following Baykar’s acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace in December 2024, signals of a closer relationship between Leonardo and Baykar emerged last week, sparking discussions in the Italian defense industry.

Strengthening industrial ties Between Italy and Türkiye

On Jan. 9, 2025, Italy’s Minister of Business and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso, stated: “We are working on forging new alliances with companies like Leonardo as part of efforts to strengthen industrial relations between Italy and Türkiye.”

Shortly after, on Jan. 23, Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani visited Baykar’s facilities in Türkiye, where he announced that the two companies were exploring “industrial synergies in unmanned technologies.”

While no official statement has been made regarding a potential deal, Baykar acknowledged Cingolani’s visit on social media, saying: “We were pleased to host Leonardo’s CEO at our facility.”

Italian media: A strategic alliance in making?

The Italian press has widely reported on the growing relationship between Leonardo and Baykar, with headlines suggesting that:

• “Leonardo is preparing to sign a partnership with Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar.”
• “A possible alliance is emerging between Leonardo and Baykar.”

Italian defense analysts believe the talks are not limited to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) but could also include next-generation defense solutions.

Expert analysis: Mutual technological benefits

Speaking to the BBC Turkish, Italian defense expert Pietro Batacchi, editor-in-chief of the Rivista Italiana Difesa (RID), commented that discussions between the two firms are at an advanced stage, possibly leading to a joint venture.

Batacchi highlighted their complementary expertise: “Baykar has demonstrated exceptional drone manufacturing capabilities, while Leonardo brings expertise in UAV systems, electronic warfare, radar, and sensors. A collaboration could create a powerful player in the unmanned systems market.”

He noted that Aselsan, a leading Turkish defense electronics firm, currently supplies sensors to Baykar. However, he argued that Leonardo might also offer solutions in this field.

Potential market impact and strategic concerns

Batacchi suggested that a Turkish-Italian defense partnership could disrupt the dominance of American and Israeli companies in the Western UAV market.

“A strong Italian-Turkish defense alliance could challenge existing players, which may not be welcomed by all stakeholders,” he said.

Defense cooperation rooted in NATO ties

Any formal agreement between Leonardo and Baykar would likely require political approval, given the strategic importance of defense partnerships.

Batacchi emphasized that despite occasional geopolitical tensions—such as Mediterranean disputes—Türkiye and Italy share long-standing military cooperation within NATO, particularly in regions like Libya and Syria.

Geopolitical considerations and US policy shifts

The expert also suggested that shifting U.S. foreign policy under a potential Trump administration could influence new regional alliances.

“Italy plays a key role in ensuring Mediterranean stability, partly under U.S. authorization. In this context, maintaining strong relations with Türkiye—a rising power—is crucial,” Batacchi explained.

Economic and trade ties strengthen bilateral relations

With a $30 billion trade volume, Türkiye and Italy are already major economic partners. Batacchi highlighted the mutual economic benefits of closer defense collaboration:

“The numbers clearly show that Türkiye and Italy are closely connected. Our long-standing military cooperation and strategic partnership can only be strengthened through an advanced UAV alliance.”