Türkiye's Baykar acquires historic 140-year-old Italian aviation giant Piaggio Aerospace PHOTO

On July 1, 2025, Baykar completed its takeover of Piaggio Aerospace, the historic Italian aviation company with a 140-year legacy.

With this acquisition, Piaggio is poised to become a key strategic production centre in Europe for Baykar’s P.180 Avanti EVO aircraft and national unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), marking a new chapter in its storied history.

The acquisition was confirmed by SavunmaSanayiST.com via its social media account, per Caliber.Az reports.

İtalya’nın 140 yıllık havacılık devi Piaggio Aerospace’in Baykar tarafından satın alma süreci resmen tamamlandı.

Piaggio tesisleri P.180 Avanti EVO jetleri ve Baykar’ın geliştirdiği SİHA’lar için Avrupa'da stratejik bir üretim üssü haline gelecek.

pic.twitter.com/nTS51UN7yb

— SavunmaSanayiST.com (@SavunmaSanayiST) June 30, 2025

The official signing ceremony took place in Italy, concluding a process that began on December 27, 2024, when the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and the “Made in Italy” initiative approved the deal. Final clearance came from the Italian Prime Minister’s Office under the “Golden Power” regulation.

The ceremony gathered prominent figures, including Italy’s Minister of Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso; Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar; and Piaggio Aerospace’s extraordinary commissioners Carmelo Cosentino, Vincenzo Nicastro, and Gianpaolo Davide Rossetti.

Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar expressed a bold vision for Piaggio Aerospace’s future: “Our goal is to revive Piaggio Aerospace with a bold vision based on the company's long-standing traditions. We deeply respect the talented and dedicated employees who kept the company afloat during difficult times. We will work together to create new opportunities, strengthen innovation, and ensure a prosperous future.”

This acquisition is widely regarded as the start of a new era, blending Piaggio Aerospace’s rich heritage with Baykar’s innovative ambitions.

By Tamilla Hasanova