In a significant step for the future of European defense and unmanned aerial technology, Italian aerospace giant Leonardo and Turkish UAV leader Baykar have officially announced their joint venture, LBA Systems, during the 55th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. The collaboration marks a major milestone in defense cooperation between Italy and Türkiye and aims to produce cutting-edge smart drones equipped with advanced communication and control technologies.
The venture, structured as a 50/50 partnership, will be headquartered in Italy and focus on the design, development, and production of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). The new firm is expected to be a hub for merging Baykar’s proven UAV platforms—such as the TB3 and Akıncı—with Leonardo’s next-generation electronic systems, enabling seamless coordination between unmanned drones and manned aircraft.
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that LBA Systems will integrate Leonardo’s electronics, communication systems, and sensors into Baykar’s drones. Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani emphasized the partnership’s ambition, stating, “The plan is to begin deliveries by 2026.”
The business daily Il Sole 24 Ore highlighted that the Paris Air Show served as the stage for formalizing the partnership, which was initially laid out in a memorandum of understanding signed in Rome earlier this year. The agreement is being hailed as a strategic alliance that strengthens Leonardo’s presence in the UAV sector while expanding Baykar’s footprint in the European defense market.
The project envisions a range of new unmanned platforms that combine Leonardo’s high-end sensor and electronics capabilities with Baykar’s operationally-proven drone systems. According to Il Messaggero, the first UAVs under this collaboration are expected to be operational by 2026 and will represent “a catalytic leap toward the frontier of European defense.”
Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman and CTO of Baykar, described the initiative as “a catalyst for the future,” reflecting both companies’ commitment to innovation and strategic defense capabilities.
As European nations increasingly prioritize indigenous defense technologies and strategic autonomy, the Leonardo–Baykar alliance is poised to become a key player in shaping the continent’s drone capabilities in the years to come.
