The strategic partnership between Türkiye’s leading defense company Baykar and Italy’s aerospace and defense giant Leonardo is rapidly advancing in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) domain. Speaking during the presentation of Leonardo’s 2025 financial results, CEO Roberto Cingolani announced that the joint UAV program has achieved significant progress in a short period of time. According to his statement, the assembly and production of the first medium-class UAVs will be completed by April 2026 at Leonardo’s Ronchi dei Legionari facility in northern Italy.

Cingolani emphasized that the UAV segment is experiencing “extraordinary momentum,” highlighting the close and continuous collaboration with Baykar. The two companies are working on a daily basis to integrate next-generation technologies, including advanced electronic systems, mission computers, and secure data-link infrastructures. Further technical and commercial details are expected to be revealed in an upcoming strategic plan update scheduled within weeks.

The cooperation is not limited to fixed-wing UAV platforms but also extends to rotary-wing systems, indicating the potential development of a broader unmanned product family in the future. Before entering mass production—expected to reach hundreds of units—a one-year testing and demonstration phase is planned. During this period, the UAVs will showcase capabilities such as operations under special landing conditions and swarm mission performance, both considered critical force multipliers in modern combat environments.

Cingolani also noted that progress in the UAV program will have a positive impact on Leonardo’s electronics division, positioning it as one of the company’s most strategic initiatives following the multinational Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). With investments continuing as planned and the timeline slightly ahead of schedule, the Baykar–Leonardo collaboration is expected to strengthen Europe’s position in the rapidly expanding UAV market and deepen defense industrial ties between Türkiye and Italy.