Baykar and Leonardo are turning a new page in unmanned technologies by joining forces. The two tech giants have established a 50-50 joint venture, LBA Systems, headquartered in Italy. The new company will focus on the entire lifecycle of unmanned aerial systems — from design and development to production and maintenance. By combining the industrial know-how and synergy of both companies, LBA Systems aims to play a key role in shaping the future of the sector.

PARIS
16 JUNE 2025

Baykar and Leonardo have officially announced the launch of a new joint venture to develop unmanned technologies. The two companies had signed a memorandum of understanding in early March in Rome.

NEW JOINT VENTURE: LBA SYSTEMS
The newly formed company, LBA Systems, will be equally owned by Baykar and Leonardo. Headquartered in Italy for both legal and operational purposes, LBA Systems will focus on the design, development, production, and maintenance of unmanned aerial systems, drawing on the strong synergy between the two partners.

“A STRATEGIC STEP TO EXPAND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP”
Baykar Chairman and CTO Selçuk Bayraktar made the following statement regarding the new joint venture: “At Baykar, we have always believed that the future of aerospace lies in bold ideas and boundary-breaking innovation. As the world’s leading developer and exporter of UAVs, we’ve turned that belief into reality on the field. This partnership with Leonardo—a company with world-class expertise in C4I systems and complementary capabilities in aviation—is more than a collaboration; it’s a catalyst for what’s next. Together, we are building a new generation of unmanned systems that are not only intelligent and mission-ready but designed with ethics and interoperability at their core. In a world of growing complexity, this alliance will deliver the AI-driven global security that tomorrow demands. This partnership reflects Baykar’s long-term strategy of deepening international cooperation and expanding our role as a global innovator in high-impact, autonomous defense technologies.”

“KEY PLAYER IN UNMANNED TECHNOLOGIES”
Roberto Cingolani, CEO of Leonardo, said: "Today we sign a new strategic international alliance, establishing a key player in the field of unmanned technologies. We firmly believe that technological cooperation is a powerful means to address the unprecedented challenges facing the defense sector. Integrating Leonardo’s experience in certification and integrated multi-domain technologies with Baykar’s world-class unmanned platforms can truly provide a meaningful boost in seizing opportunities both across Europe and on the global stage. We are moving forward with the implementation of our Industrial Plan, focusing on internationalization to make Leonardo a major player for global security.”

STRATEGIC DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES
With a broad portfolio covering all segments of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, Baykar will focus on the design and development of advanced unmanned platforms as part of this collaboration. Leonardo, on the other hand, will provide high-tech electronic systems and payloads, while also enabling manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) and swarm capabilities. In addition, Leonardo will lead qualification and certification efforts.

TARGET: EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
Through the work of the Joint Venture, Baykar and Leonardo aim to jointly pursue opportunities in European and international markets. The two companies have also agreed to explore new areas of cooperation to further deepen their partnership. These potential collaborations range from commercial partnerships involving existing platforms to joint projects developed within multi-domain digital ecosystems.

TECHNOLOGY AND R&D HUBS IN ITALY
Leonardo facilities participating in the project include Ronchi dei Legionari—recognized as a center of excellence for unmanned systems; Turin, where engineering and certification activities will be carried out; Rome Tiburtina, focused on integrated multi-domain technologies; and Grottaglie, which specializes in the production of advanced composite materials.