Italian defence giant invests $150 million in upgrading Ukrainian Army's drones

Italian defence corporation Leonardo has allocated $150 million to support Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

The company has signed several cooperation agreements with Ukrainian firms, supplying electronics and guidance systems for drones, Caliber.Az reports via the Russian Telegram channel SHOT.

Through Leonardo’s air traffic division, five radar surveillance systems have also been delivered to assist Ukraine in monitoring its airspace.

Leonardo collaborates with Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar and German arms producer Rheinmetall.

Earlier this year, the company signed an agreement with Baykar to develop new unmanned aerial vehicles.

The information was reportedly uncovered by Russian hackers from the PalachPro group, who gained access to Leonardo employees’ personal files and computers, extracting internal documents.

Currently, Leonardo’s assistance to the Ukrainian military is estimated at $150 million, and by 2026, the Italian company plans to enhance Ukraine’s defence systems with its technologies, including drone modernisation and AI integration.

Leonardo has stepped up its engagement with Ukraine by signing a memorandum of cooperation in July 2025 with the Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise (UkSATSE) and Italian air-navigation provider ENAV S.p.A..

While the firm announced it has no plans to open a manufacturing plant on Ukrainian soil, its CEO affirmed that Leonardo remains committed to supporting Ukraine through technology transfers and partnerships, including with Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar Makina.

By Jeyhun Aghazada