Türkiye’s leading defense company BAYKAR has made two bold moves that are reshaping the European defense landscape. The company’s acquisition of Italy’s Piaggio Aerospace, often referred to as the “Ferrari of the skies,” and its strategic partnership with Leonardo, one of the continent’s largest aerospace and defense giants, represent far more than just commercial expansion. These steps mark a new phase of industrial integration between Türkiye and Italy, opening pathways for BAYKAR to access the European Union’s defense ecosystem while strengthening Europe’s own drone and unmanned systems capabilities.

According to defense expert Kubilay Yıldırım, BAYKAR’s Italian expansion should not be seen merely as an effort to “enter the European market.” Instead, it reflects a mutually beneficial alignment — Türkiye gains regulatory and logistical access through an EU-based company, while Europe gains from BAYKAR’s combat-proven unmanned aerial systems. The move also coincides with a growing push within Europe to reduce dependence on U.S. defense systems and develop indigenous capabilities, a trend accelerated by recent geopolitical tensions and the war in Ukraine.

Unlike Europe, which still debates how to operationalize autonomous and semi-autonomous combat systems, BAYKAR has already proven its platforms in real-world conflicts. Its UAVs — from the Bayraktar TB2 to AKINCI and the jet-powered KIZILELMA — have not only been tested under fire but also mass-produced, exported, and continuously upgraded. Yıldırım emphasizes that Europe “does not want to miss the train,” recognizing BAYKAR as a company that is already several steps ahead in unmanned warfare technologies. Leonardo, in particular, sees in BAYKAR a partner that combines field-tested systems, strong financial stability, and rapid R&D capability — advantages that Europe has long sought to replicate.

Addressing public concerns about whether this partnership might lead to Turkish UAV technology being transferred abroad, Yıldırım clarifies that such fears are unfounded: “If these systems were that easy to replicate, European companies would have already done so. BAYKAR’s true strength lies not only in its hardware but in its speed, adaptability, and iterative engineering model — qualities that can’t simply be copied.”

In short, BAYKAR’s move into Italy represents a strategic bridge from Türkiye to Europe, while for Italy and the EU, it’s an opportunity to partner with a proven global leader before the race for next-generation unmanned systems accelerates further. The partnership reflects a clear win-win dynamic: Türkiye gains a stronger foothold in European defense markets, and Europe gains a reliable ally with battle-hardened technology and unmatched innovation momentum.