Leonardo has confirmed its plans to co-produce Baykar’s unmanned aircraft in Italy through their new joint venture, LBA Systems, signaling one of the most ambitious drone partnerships in Europe to date. The venture will establish Italian assembly lines for Baykar’s Bayraktar TB2, TB3, Akinci, and Kizilelma drones — combining European certification standards, integrated sensors, and advanced weapon systems with Baykar’s operationally proven platforms.
The announcement, detailed in Leonardo’s 2025 third-quarter results presentation, underscores a shift in Italy’s role within the drone sector — from end-user to strategic co-manufacturer. The partnership seeks to create an EU-centered production and certification ecosystem, enabling compliant, export-ready UAVs amid tightening European regulations on unmanned systems. This framework allows Italian facilities to deliver not only airframes but fully integrated systems ready for European and global markets.
According to Leonardo, LBA Systems has been structured to cover the entire UAV production lifecycle. This includes composite aerostructure manufacturing, engineering certification, command-and-control integration, and through-life support. Development teams from both companies are already aligning payload configurations and mission profiles across multiple categories, such as intelligence, surveillance, strike, and loyal-wingman operations.
The move strengthens Europe’s industrial base for next-generation drone technology and enhances Leonardo’s footprint in the rapidly expanding UAV export market. By merging European compliance with Baykar’s field-tested design philosophy, the Leonardo-Baykar alliance aims to deliver versatile and certifiable unmanned platforms for allied nations worldwide.
