Italy’s Leonardo, Türkiye’s Baykar discuss cooperation in defense industry
Turkish Baykar's TB3 UCAV and Leonardo's UAV. (Collage by Mehmet Akbas/Türkiye Today)
Italy’s Leonardo and Türkiye’s Baykar are in discussions for a potential defense industry partnership, Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani revealed during a recent interview.
The talks aim to explore synergies between Leonardo’s expertise in electronics and sensor systems and Baykar’s globally recognized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies.
Speaking about his visit to Baykar’s Ozdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center in Istanbul, Cingolani said: “We have been meeting with our colleagues at Baykar for several months. Last week’s visit was very interesting because we engaged in more technical discussions and are looking seriously and operationally into the possibility of developing products and technologies together.”
Complementary technologies driving collaboration
Cingolani emphasized the strong complementarity between Leonardo‘s product portfolio, including advanced radar and sensor systems, and Baykar’s UAV platforms.
He noted: “If we do some things together, we can really make a leap forward in unmanned systems and open up new market areas, especially in Europe.”
This collaboration could lead to integrating Leonardo’s technology solutions into Baykar’s drones, such as the Bayraktar TB2, which has gained international recognition for its effectiveness in various conflict zones such as Ukraine, Libya and Azerbaijan.
Baykar’s recent acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace
Baykar’s acquisition of Italy’s Piaggio Aerospace in December 2024 has also heightened interest in the company’s activities within Italy. Known for producing the P.180 Avanti business jet and playing a strategic role in Italy’s defense industry, Piaggio Aerospace adds significant value to Baykar’s portfolio and positions it for broader collaboration in Europe.
Cingolani confirmed that discussions with Baykar began before the Piaggio acquisition and have since intensified.
He described Baykar as “an impressive company, at an exceptional level worldwide,” noting the company’s dynamic workforce and state-of-the-art infrastructure.
Baykar’s strategy is to establish partnerships with major players in the EU instead of competing with them, thus providing profit for both parties. There is also a claim that a US-made Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system equivalent drone is being developed jointly by Italy and Türkiye.
Potential NATO, European implications
The partnership could have strategic implications for NATO and European defense efforts. Cingolani highlighted the importance of technological alliances, stating, “Alliances are necessary first and foremost in the field of technology because these challenges are so big and so urgent. You can try to do it alone, but it will take 50 years.”
The collaboration aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and promote interoperability among member states.
Future steps in partnership
While the discussions are still in their early stages, both sides are optimistic about the outcome.
Cingolani explained the necessary steps, including technological analysis to ensure compatibility, market analysis to assess feasibility, and industrial production planning. “We are very optimistic and are working intensively on these issues,” he said.
