Türkiye’s Baykar, Italy’s Leonardo partner to lead European UAV market Pact targets $100 billion surge / video

Türkiye's leading unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer, Baykar, has signed a partnership agreement with Leonardo, one of Europe's largest defence companies, in the field of unmanned technologies.

The agreement was formalised at Leonardo's headquarters in Rome, with CEO Roberto Cingolani of Leonardo, alongside Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar and Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar, marking the occasion, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

Parties later held a joint press conference at the Foreign Press Association in Rome. During the conference, Cingolani described the day as significant, stating, “Today is an important day. We are signing a memorandum of understanding with Baykar. With our colleagues from Baykar, we have defined key milestones.”

Cingolani noted that the agreement was the product of five months of intense discussions and collaboration. He revealed that the deal spans five years, with expectations for deeper cooperation in the future. "This is a major outcome," he said. Cingolani also expressed being impressed by his visit to Baykar's facilities in Istanbul, highlighting the wide range of UAV products produced by the Turkish company.

Selçuk Bayraktar added, “We have had intensive discussions for months. We were already working with Leonardo, integrating systems. The cooperation was already in place. The chemistry and synergy between us have developed remarkably in recent months.” 

He emphasised that the two companies complement each other, adding, "Together, we can create the best systems. We appreciate the cooperation they have shown. We are thrilled to start this journey."

Additionally, it was announced that the partnership would involve production in both Türkiye and Italy. Baykar and Leonardo expect the European UAV market to reach a value of 100 billion dollars over the next decade.

By Aghakazim Guliyev