At the Paris Air Show, Baykar and Leonardo announced the formation of their joint venture to develop unmanned technology. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding in Rome in early March. Baykar and Leonardo will each hold a 50 percent stake in the new company, dubbed LBA Systems. The legal and operational centre of the venture will be located in Italy. LBA Systems will focus on designing, developing, producing and maintaining unmanned aerial systems, drawing on the strong industrial synergy of the two companies.

“A strategic step to strengthen global leadership”

Baykar's Chairman of the Board and Technology Leader, Selçuk Bayraktar, made the following statement regarding the new joint venture: ‘At Baykar, we have always believed that the future of aerospace depends on bold ideas and innovations that transcend borders. As the world's leading UAV developer and exporter, we have turned this belief into reality. This partnership with Leonardo, which has world-class expertise in C4I (command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence) systems and aviation capabilities that are compatible with our own, will be more than just a collaboration; it will be a catalyst for developments that will shape the future. Together, we are developing the next generation of unmanned systems that are smart, mission-ready and ethically grounded in the principle of interoperability. In an increasingly complex world, this alliance will play a decisive role in establishing the AI-powered global security the future requires. This partnership forms part of Baykar's long-term strategy to strengthen its international collaborations and consolidate its position as a global leader in high-impact autonomous defence technologies."

“A Key Player in Unmanned Technologies”

Roberto Cingolani, the CEO of Leonardo, said: ‘Today, we are signing a new international strategic alliance that will establish a leading presence in the field of unmanned technologies. We strongly believe that technological cooperation is a powerful tool with which to tackle the unprecedented challenges facing the defence sector. By integrating Leonardo's expertise in certification and integrated multidimensional technologies with Baykar's world-class unmanned platforms, we will be able to seize opportunities not only in Europe, but also on a global scale. We are continuing to implement our industrial plan with determination, focusing on expanding into international markets in line with our goal of establishing Leonardo as a leading global security provider."

Baykar, which has a wide product range covering all relevant segments of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, will focus on designing and developing advanced unmanned platforms as part of this collaboration. Leonardo, on the other hand, will supply advanced electronic systems and payloads technology, and implement manned-unmanned platform cooperation (MUM-T) and swarm capabilities. It will also carry out qualification and certification activities.

Focus: European and International Markets

Through the joint venture agreement, Baykar and Leonardo intend to seize opportunities in the European and international markets together. The two companies have also agreed to explore new areas to take their cooperation even further. These potential collaborations range from commercial partnerships involving the companies' existing platforms, to joint projects to be developed within multidimensional digital ecosystems.

The Leonardo facilities involved in the project include:

• Ronchi dei Legionari, the centre of excellence for the unmanned systems sector
• Turin, where engineering and certification activities will be carried out
• Rome Tiburtina, where integrated multidimensional technologies will be developed
• Grottaglie, where advanced composite materials will be produced