Turkiye Baykar & Leonardo Partner For Drone Joint Venture

In a landmark development for the European drone industry, Turkiye leading drone manufacturer Baykar has entered into a strategic partnership with Italian defense giant Leonardo. The collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Rome, aims to establish a joint venture focused on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) that will be based in Italy.

Industry Leaders Unite

The newly announced partnership brings together two complementary forces in the defense sector. Baykar, recognized globally for its combat-proven drone platforms, will combine its operational expertise with Leonardo’s advanced capabilities in mission systems, payload design, and European aerospace certification processes. This strategic alliance aims to address what Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani described as “a gap in unmanned technologies” within Europe.

“We have been in intensive negotiations for months. We were already working with Leonardo and there are systems we have integrated,” noted Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairperson and CTO of Baykar. “We can make the best systems together. We thank them for their cooperation, we are very happy to start this journey.”

Unlocking a $100B Market

The joint statement from both companies highlights the significant market potential, estimating that the European UAS market will be worth approximately $100 billion over the next decade. This five-year agreement is designed to capitalize on this growth opportunity while fostering deeper cooperation between the two industry leaders.

The joint venture will encompass the complete lifecycle of unmanned systems, including design, development, production, and maintenance. While headquartered in Italy, production activities will be distributed across both countries, leveraging the unique strengths of each partner.

Boosting European Defense

This partnership comes at a critical time for European defense strategy. “In a complicated time like the one we are living in, it is fundamental to guarantee global security,” emphasized Cingolani during the announcement. The collaboration aims to address emerging challenges in defense technology, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and space applications.

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Selçuk Bayraktar highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating: “As the global leader in armed UAV development, production and export in the world, Baykar has always focused on pushing the boundaries of innovation in unmanned aviation. Leonardo’s globally renowned capability in C4I systems and its advanced AI technology backbone make this collaboration even more impactful.”

The agreement follows Baykar’s recent acquisition of Italian aviation and defense company Piaggio Aerospace, further solidifying the Turkish company’s expansion into European markets. As Turkiye top defense exporter with drone sales to dozens of countries, this new venture positions Baykar to strengthen its global leadership in unmanned systems while helping to close Europe’s technological gap in this rapidly evolving sector.

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