Italy approves Leonardo-Baykar drone venture
ROME
Italy ’s government has approved a joint venture between Italian defense group Leonardo and Turkish drone maker Baykar to design, develop and produce unmanned aerial systems, according to Italian media reports.
The approval was granted under Italy’s Golden Power rules, which allow the government to review or impose conditions on investments in strategic sectors, including defense and national security.
La Repubblica reported that the cabinet gave the green light to the 50-50 venture between Leonardo and Baykar, subject to several conditions.
The conditions include protecting confidential information and technology used in the venture, the report said.
International development activities under the partnership must also be directed only toward countries aligned with NATO and European Union policies, according to the report.
Il Messaggero also reported that the government approved the creation of the joint venture under its special powers, with conditions aimed at protecting national strategic interests and supply-chain continuity.
The newspaper said Defense Minister Guido Crosetto had supported approval of the project.
The joint company, LBA Systems, was announced in March 2025 and formally established in June 2025.
Leonardo and Baykar have said the company, based in Italy and owned equally by the two firms, will focus on the full cycle of unmanned aerial systems, including design, development, production and maintenance.
The partnership combines Baykar’s unmanned aerial platforms with Leonardo’s experience in mission systems, payloads and certification in Europe.
The venture is part of a wider push by both companies to address growing demand for unmanned systems in the European defense market.
Drones ,
Read the full article at Hurriyet Daily News →📄Source document: Il Messaggero→2 reports
Hurriyet Daily NewsParty-alignedCenter4 days agoItaly's government has approved a joint venture between Italian defense firm Leonardo and Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar to design, develop, and produce unmanned aerial systems. The approval was made under Italy's Golden Power rules, which allow the government to regulate investments in strategic sectors such as defense and national security. Conditions were imposed, including restrictions on international development activities to countries aligned with NATO and EU policies, protection of confidential information, and ensuring supply-chain continuity. The joint company, named LBA Systems,
Bias read (Center): The article presents the approval of a joint venture between an Italian and Turkish defense company without overtly favoring either side. It includes conditions set by the Italian government to protect national interests but does not frame these conditions as inherently positive or negative. The phr
Official sources cited
- press release La Repubblica
- press release Il Messaggero
Daily SabahParty-alignedCenter4 days agoItaly's government has approved a joint venture between state-controlled defense firm Leonardo and Turkish company Baykar to produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The partnership, announced in March 2025, is structured as a 50-50 collaboration aiming to strengthen Europe's position in the global drone market, estimated at $100 billion over the next decade. The approval included conditions restricting sales to countries aligned with Europe and NATO, and all technology used in the drones will be classified. Italy utilized its 'golden power' provisions to safeguard strategic interests. The Bay
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or framing. It reports on an economic partnership involving defense technology but does not take a stance on the geopolitical implications or the companies involved.
TR