Baykar and Leonardo Forge Strategic Alliance to Transform Europe’s Drone Market

Baykar has partnered with Leonardo to establish a joint venture focused on assembling drones in Turkey and Italy. This collaboration aims to access Europe’s projected $100 billion drone market over the next decade, facilitating advanced aerospace technology development. The joint venture is expected to produce a prototype of the Akinci drone within a year, enhancing European defense capabilities and potentially reducing reliance on U.S. military products.

In a significant move to capture a share of Europe’s burgeoning drone market, Turkish UAV leader Baykar has entered into a joint venture with Italy’s Leonardo. This collaboration aims to merge Baykar’s drone platforms with Leonardo’s advanced electronics and radar technology, anticipating drone assembly in both Turkey and Italy. The European drone market is projected to reach $100 billion over the next decade, making this venture crucial for both companies.

Leonardo’s CEO, Roberto Cingolani, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, “Europe has a gap in unmanned technologies… drones are fundamental to guarantee security.” The initial prototype will be a variant of Baykar’s Akinci drone, expected to be operational within a year. This drone can carry a payload of 1.5 tonnes, capable of transporting various munitions typically associated with fighter jets.

The collaboration also envisions a deepened relationship beyond product assembly. Baykar’s Kizilelma unmanned fighter may potentially serve as a ‘Loyal Wingman’ for the upcoming Anglo-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) fighter. Cingolani noted that this partnership presents an opportunity to explore the inclusion of a Turkish drone as a supporting element for GCAP.

While discussions surrounding the drone’s integration into the fighter program have commenced, Cingolani cautioned that it is too early to establish specific roles for the drones in this context. He remarked on the need for clarity regarding operational requirements before deepening proposals.

Furthermore, should the assembly of Baykar drones extend to Italy, Leonardo facilities and Piaggio Aerospace, acquired by Baykar, could facilitate this expansion. The memorandum of understanding, recently signed, lays the groundwork for this venture to formalize in about six months.

Key elements of Leonardo’s contribution involve providing sensors, software integration, and ensuring certification for drone operations. Cingolani highlighted potential synergies, such as the development of UAV swarms operating independently of GPS and leading formations of smaller drones, enhancing operational capabilities.

While the venture seeks innovation, Cingolani reassured stakeholders that it would not conflict with the Eurodrone program, despite pointing out that more could be done to enhance European drone competitiveness. He expressed optimism that the Italian military would consider purchasing Baykar’s drone offerings.

The emergence of this partnership signals a possible shift in Italy’s defense procurement strategy, traditionally reliant on U.S. drones like the Predator and Reaper, reflecting a broader European pursuit of defense sovereignty. Cingolani remarked on the increasing urgency for Europe to bolster its defense spending, in light of geopolitical uncertainties.

This collaboration between Baykar and Leonardo is poised to redefine the landscape of European drone manufacturing, capitalizing on shared strengths and addressing pressing security needs in the region.

The partnership between Baykar and Leonardo marks a pivotal development in Europe’s drone industry, with the potential to enhance technological capabilities and increase defense sovereignty. This joint venture focuses on leveraging each company’s strengths to produce advanced drone systems, addressing significant gaps in Europe’s unmanned technologies. As the market is projected to grow substantially, this collaboration shows promise in fulfilling both operational needs and strategic autonomy within Europe’s defense landscape.

Original Source: www.defensenews.com