Leonardo is set to join Turkey’s Baykar in co-producing unmanned aircraft in Italy, a move that marks a major step toward building an EU-based supply chain for combat drones. The companies will manufacture Baykar’s TB2, TB3, Akinci, and Kizilelma aircraft under a joint venture called LBA Systems, blending European certification and integration expertise with Baykar’s proven platforms. Revealed during Leonardo’s third-quarter 2025 financial update, the initiative shifts part of Baykar’s production base to Italy, making the country a full participant in manufacturing and certification rather than just a buyer. The partnership aims to meet growing European and global demand for certified, export-ready drone systems while strengthening Leonardo’s position in the rapidly expanding unmanned systems market. LBA Systems is structured around five workstreams — serial production, composite structures, engineering certification, mission-systems integration, and sustainment. Teams are already aligning payloads and platforms for surveillance, strike, and emerging loyal-wingman roles. The move also supports Italy’s ambition to become a key European hub for next-generation autonomous aircraft, linking Leonardo’s experience in sensors and avionics with Baykar’s high-volume drone production. For Baykar, the venture opens access to European defense supply networks and certification pathways, critical for expansion amid tightening export controls. For Leonardo, it’s a way to secure a stake in a booming market segment dominated by fast-moving private manufacturers. The collaboration demonstrates how European defense firms are seeking hybrid partnerships that combine agility, certification rigor, and industrial capacity — essential elements for the next phase of drone warfare and defense innovation.
