Leonardo and Baykar's UAV production strategy in Italy
Leonardo and Baykar Unveil LBA Systems UAV Production Strategy Across Italy.
Joint venture to manufacture five UAV models, including the Kizilelma UCAV, with integrated Turkish platforms and Italian payloads
Leonardo and Baykar Technologies have detailed their industrial roadmap for the LBA Systems joint venture, which will produce five uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) models at multiple sites across Italy.
Speaking on 5 November, Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani outlined the collaboration’s strategy, combining Turkish-developed UAV platforms with advanced sensor and weapon payloads from the Italian aerospace firm.
A key highlight of the plan is the production of Baykar’s Kizilelma unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) at Leonardo’s Grottaglie facility in southern Italy, currently used for manufacturing composite fuselage barrels for the Boeing 787. “It will be our universal adjunct fighter, adaptable to any platform as long as the control electronics are developed — which is precisely our expertise,” Cingolani stated.
Additional production will take place at Leonardo’s Ronchi dei Legionari site in northern Italy, where Baykar’s TB3 UAVs will be assembled alongside the revived Mirach aerial target. Meanwhile, Piaggio Aerospace’s Villanova d’Albenga plant — acquired by Baykar in June — will handle manufacturing of the Akinci and TB2 UAVs.
Supporting infrastructure will include engineering and technology centers in Rome and Turin. “We are investing heavily and upgrading production lines,” Cingolani added. “I believe the first product will reach the market next year.”
The LBA Systems venture, officially launched at the Paris Air Show in June, is currently awaiting regulatory approval.
In parallel, Baykar announced in October that its Kizilelma UCAV successfully deployed Aselsan’s Tolun and Roketsan’s Teber-82 precision-guided munitions during flight testing. Later that month, the jet flew for the first time equipped with Aselsan’s Murad 100-A active electronically scanned array radar.
Serial production of the Kizilelma has already begun in Turkey, with deliveries expected to commence in 2026.
(6.01.2026)
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