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Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar and Italian defense giant Leonardo have officially launched a 50-50 joint venture named LBA Systems at the Paris Air Show, aiming to reshape the future of unmanned aerial technologies.
The new company will be based in Italy and will focus on the design, development, production, and maintenance of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
LBA Systems intends to leverage the industrial strengths and synergy of both firms to play a key role in the global defense market.
Baykar Chairman and CTO Selcuk Bayraktar emphasized that the partnership represents a bold leap in aerospace innovation: "Together, we are building interoperable, intelligent, and ethically grounded unmanned systems for tomorrow's world."
Bayraktar added that this initiative reflects Baykar’s long-term strategy to deepen international partnerships and expand its leadership in high-impact autonomous defense technologies.
Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani echoed this vision, describing the venture as a "strategic alliance that will play a critical role in the evolution of unmanned systems, not only in Europe but globally."
He noted that Leonardo’s expertise in certification and multi-domain integration complements Baykar’s operational platforms.
Baykar will lead the development of advanced unmanned platforms, including the Bayraktar TB3 and Akinci, while Leonardo will provide high-tech electronic systems and payloads, implement manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities, and oversee qualification and certification.
Leonardo’s facilities involved in the project include
The joint venture aims to penetrate European and international markets, with both sides also agreeing to explore additional collaborations.
These include potential integration of current platforms and the co-development of new projects within multi-dimensional digital ecosystems.
The agreement was signed during a ceremony at the Paris Air Show by Cingolani and Bayraktar, followed by a joint press conference.
Cingolani expressed his admiration for Baykar’s youthful workforce and highly advanced production system.
Bayraktar underlined that Türkiye has become one of the top exporters of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) globally, holding 65% of the national export share.
He emphasized the strategic importance of the alliance for both NATO and global security.
Both executives highlighted that the collaboration is rooted not only in mutual industrial interests but also in a shared vision for enhancing defense interoperability and readiness in an increasingly complex global landscape.
Bayraktar also mentioned ongoing talks in space technologies, long-term UAV projects like Kizilelma, and the vision of achieving full technological independence with Türkiye’s national tech initiative.
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