Turkey’s Baykar sets defence venture with Italy’s Leonardo

Baykar, a Turkish defence supplier, and Italy’s Leonardo, an aerospace and defence company, have agreed to establish a joint venture for the development of “next-generation” unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

LBA Systems, the equally owned venture, will have its headquarters in Italy and focus on the design and development, as well as production and maintenance, of UAV systems, Leonardo said in a statement.

Production is expected to start shortly, state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported, quoting Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani.

The joint venture was finalised at Paris Airshow, which was overshadowed by escalating conflict in the Middle East between Iran and Israel.

Baykar will focus on the design and development of advanced unmanned platforms. Leonardo will provide electronic systems and payloads, implement teaming and swarming capabilities, and handle qualification and certification activities.

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The venture will pursue opportunities in both the European and international markets.

“Work will be carried out on the Bayraktar TB3 and Akinci platforms,” Selçuk Bayraktar, chairman and chief technology officer of Baykar, told Anadolu Agency.

Baykar holds 60 percent of the UAV export market in the world.

Bayraktar said that negotiations between Leonardo and Baykar are continuing in the field of space.