Türkiye and Italy are forging a powerful defense partnership, driven by a series of high-profile agreements that signal deepening ties between these NATO allies. On June 11, 2025, Turkish defense giant ROKETSAN signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Leonardo, one of Europe’s leading aerospace and defense firms, setting the stage for ambitious joint projects and global market expansion.
A New Playbook for Global Defense
The ROKETSAN-Leonardo deal is all about combining strengths to create next-level defense solutions. ROKETSAN, a powerhouse in precision-guided missiles like the Çakır and Atmaca, brings its expertise in missile systems, while Leonardo contributes its cutting-edge know-how in sensors, electronics, and missile defense technologies. While the specifics of their joint projects remain under wraps, the partnership is clearly aimed at capturing growing demand in global markets, particularly among NATO allies and emerging economies.
Drones Take Flight with LBA Systems
This isn’t the first big move between Türkiye and Italy this year. In March 2025, Türkiye’s Baykar, a global leader in drone technology, teamed up with Leonardo to launch LBA Systems, a joint venture focused on unmanned aerial vehicles. Officially named in June, LBA Systems pairs Baykar’s battle-tested drones—like the Bayraktar TB2 and AKINCI—with Leonardo’s advanced payloads and systems integration. Baykar’s CEO, Haluk Bayraktar, highlighted the company’s current output of 250 TB2s and 54 AKINCI drones annually, with plans to ramp up production of the TB3 and the KIZILELMA, an unmanned combat aerial vehicle. The venture is set to make waves in markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, where demand for advanced UAVs is soaring.
Diplomacy Paves the Way
High-level talks have fueled this momentum. In April 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Rome, overseeing the signing of 12 cooperation agreements, several focused on defense. Earlier, in April, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto visited Türkiye to meet with his counterpart, Yaşar Güler, discussing bilateral ties and regional security. Both nations are committed to boosting trade and deepening their defense industries, all while aligning within the NATO framework.
Shared Ambitions, Global Impact
Türkiye’s defense sector is on a roll, with companies like ROKETSAN and Baykar earning global recognition for their combat-proven technologies. For Italy, Leonardo’s projected revenue growth to $32.5 billion by 2029 underscores its drive to stay competitive. Beyond defense, the two countries share goals in regional stability, particularly in Syria, and tackling irregular migration, adding depth to their partnership.
The ROKETSAN-Leonardo deal and the LBA Systems venture are bold bets on innovation and influence, blending Turkish and Italian expertise to shape the future of global defense technology.
