Leonardo and the Turkish Defense Company Baykar Technologies have unveiled their plan to create a joint venture (JV) focused on unrealized technologies during the Paris International Air Show in Bourget, France.
This collaboration follows a memorandum of understanding signed in Rome in March 2025.
The new entity, named LBA Systems, will be co -owner by the two companies with an equal participation of 50% each. The company will be based in Italy, where it will take care of its legal and operational functions.
The JV will integrate the industrial forces of the two mother companies to undertake the design, development, production and maintenance of non -mixed air systems (UAS).
Baykar will focus on the design and development of advanced unmanned platforms, taking advantage of its large wallet on various UAS segments.
Leonardo will contribute by providing advanced electronic systems and charges, by implementing association and swarming capacities, and by participating in qualification and certification processes.
The president of Baykar Technologies and CTO Selçuk Bayraktar said: “This partnership with Leonardo – a company with world class expertise in C4i systems and the additional aviation capacities – is more than a collaboration; It is a catalyst for what is following.
“Together, we build a new generation of unmanned systems which not only intelligent and mission ready but designed with ethics and interoperability at the base.”
Leonardo and Baykar’s partnership via LBA systems should target opportunities in European and global markets.
In addition, companies have agreed to consider other cooperative efforts that could go from commercial partnerships involving their respective platforms to joint efforts within multi-domain digital ecosystems.
Several Leonardo installations will play key roles in this joint venture: Ronchi Dei Legionari will contribute his expertise in non -mixed technologies; Turin will take care of the engineering and certification processes; Rome Tiburtina will focus on the development of integrated multi-domain technologies; And Grottaglie will specialize in the production of advanced composite materials.
Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani said: “Today, we signed a new strategic international alliance, establishing a key player in the field of non -mixed technologies.
“We firmly believe that technological cooperation is a powerful way to meet the unprecedented challenges faced by the defense sector.”
In March 2025, Leonardo Launched a new program In collaboration with Form1 to promote innovation and growth among small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK’s defense and security sector.
