At the 55th Paris Air Show held in Le Bourget, one of the most prestigious aviation events in France, Turkish defense industry leader Baykar and Italian aerospace giant Leonardo signed a strategic joint venture agreement. The signing ceremony, attended by Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani and Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar, marked a milestone partnership aimed at advancing the next generation of unmanned aerial systems and strengthening European defense capabilities.

Cingolani emphasized that there is a significant gap in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities within NATO and Europe. He stated that the newly founded joint venture will soon begin production of next-generation systems, focusing on integrating payload and sensor technologies. The companies aim to successfully land an unmanned aircraft on an Italian Navy aircraft carrier by the end of the year. The venture will operate across four production sites in Italy, including Ronchi dei Legionari, with certification processes expected to be completed by 2026. The project’s primary goal is to enhance Europe’s indigenous UAV capacity through allied cooperation.

Selçuk Bayraktar highlighted Leonardo’s advanced radar and payload systems, calling them a “perfect technological complement” to Baykar’s platforms. The collaboration will initially focus on Bayraktar TB3 and Bayraktar AKINCI, aiming to integrate joint mission systems and expand operational capabilities. Bayraktar noted that Baykar’s current partnerships with European and NATO countries would grow further under this venture, strengthening both sides’ presence in international markets. Discussions between the two companies also extend to the space domain, with potential for future collaboration in that area.

Cingolani praised Baykar’s state-of-the-art production facilities and young engineering team, describing the company’s technical and commercial outlook as “impressive.” He also stressed the importance of reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank and deepening technological cooperation between Europe and Turkey. Bayraktar, on the other hand, reiterated that Baykar’s long-term goals include revolutionary platforms such as KIZILELMA and naval variants of TB3, which are expected to redefine air and naval combat concepts. The Baykar–Leonardo alliance, therefore, represents not only a strategic industrial partnership but also a vision for enhancing global security through innovative and interoperable defense technologies.