Rome: BAYKAR, a Turkish defense firm, and Italy’s leading aerospace and defense company Leonardo S.p.A. will collaborate for the first time to develop medium-sized unarmed aerial drones (UAVs), expected to be unveiled in April. The Turkey-Italy defense partnership is accelerating efforts to produce European-made drones.
Leonardo CEO Roberto Singolani told Anadolu that the joint project is progressing according to pre-defined roadmaps. He stated that the companies will manufacture medium drones with a payload capacity of several hundred kilograms at the Ronchi dei Legionari facility, while preparations for production at other sites are also underway.
Singolani noted that the drones will be certified in Italy to meet the demand of the “large market awaiting European-made drones.” He emphasized that Leonardo and BAYKAR are jointly addressing Europe’s domestic drone production shortfall, calling it “highly complementary cooperation.”
BAYKAR is responsible for the aerial platform, while Leonardo is developing intelligence systems and specialized technical technologies for the medium UAVs. He added that these drones could play a role in the ’Michelangelo Dom’ air defense system, announced in November 2025, with the first tests expected in Ukraine by the end of this year.
