BAYKAR’s acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace and partnership with Leonardo signal Europe’s intent to collaborate with Türkiye in the S/UAV sector to avoid being left behind.

Turkey’s Baykar and Italy’s Leonardo have signed a five-year partnership agreement in Rome to co-develop and co-produce unmanned aerial systems. The deal includes joint production in Turkey and Italy, leveraging European certification and market access advantages.

Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani highlighted strong technological synergy with Baykar, confirming that the two companies are working intensively toward potential cooperation in next-generation unmanned systems.

Italy’s Parliament approved two FREMM EVO frigates and 272 Leopard tanks, pairing naval upgrades with an “Italianized” Leopard program worth about €8.3 billion.

Italy plans to customize German Leopard 2 tanks with locally made sensors, radios, and possibly a gun barrel, strengthening its defense industry role.

Italy’s Leonardo and the Franco-German consortium KNDS formed a strategic alliance to speed Italy’s MGCS participation and coordinate Leopard 2A8 tank procurement and support.