Leonardo and Baykar have officially established a 50:50 joint venture to design, develop, produce, and maintain unmanned aerial systems for international markets.
Announced at the Paris Air Show, the LBA Systems joint venture formalizes the defense companies’ memorandum of understanding signed in Rome in March 2025. It will be legally and operationally headquartered in Italy.
The initial work will be carried out on the Bayraktar TB3 and Akinci drones, Baykar chair Selcuk Bayraktar informed Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu. Meanwhile, Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani said they have begun work on payload systems integration.
Cingolani described the venture as a “new strategic international alliance” which involves “integrating Leonardo’s experience in certification and integrated multi-domain technologies with Baykar’s world-class unmanned platforms.”
Meanwhile, Bayraktar stressed that it was “more than a collaboration; it’s a catalyst for what’s next” as both companies aim to build “a new generation of unmanned systems that are not only intelligent and mission-ready but designed with ethics and interoperability at their core.”
“In a world of growing complexity, this alliance will deliver the AI-driven global security that tomorrow demands,” he added.
Joint Venture
Under the deal, Baykar is in charge of design and development, while Leonardo will supply electronic systems and payloads, implement manned-unmanned teaming and swarming capabilities, and be involved in qualification and certification.
It also covers potential areas for collaboration, including commercial cooperation, multi-domain digital ecosystems, and space-related initiatives.
The production facilities are across Italy, including Ronchi dei Legionari, Turin, Tiburtina in Rome, and Grottaglie.
Among the venture’s goals are a successful landing on an Italian Navy aircraft carrier by the end of 2025, certification for new machines by 2026, and filling in gaps in Europe’s drone shortage.
“I think one priority is that Europe and other countries like Türkiye should create alliances, stronger business models, developing new technologies,” Cingolani said, while Bayraktar highlighted how the collaboration supports Europe, NATO, and broader global security.
