Leonardo and Baykar’s LBA Systems Joint Venture Reaches Full Operational Readiness

Leonardo and Baykar have announced that their Leonardo Baykar LBA Systems joint venture has reached full operational readiness following the completion of regulatory authorizations and the appointment of the company’s lead. The companies unveiled the milestone during the Farnborough International Airshow.

The joint venture is equally owned by Leonardo and Baykar, with legal and operational headquarters located in Italy.

Leonardo Baykar LBA Systems Begins Operations

According to the companies, LBA Systems combines complementary capabilities across the design, development, production and maintenance of unmanned aerial systems.

The joint venture brings together:

• Leonardo’s electronics systems
• Payload and effector integration capabilities
• European approval and certification expertise
• Baykar’s advanced UAS platform design and development
• Manufacturing capabilities and production processes
• A portfolio covering multiple UAS segments

Leonardo also established a dedicated Unmanned Business Unit within its Aeronautics Division to coordinate the venture’s business and industrial activities.

“LBA Systems enters the rapidly growing uncrewed system sector with a complete and competitive offer,” said Lorenzo Mariani, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo. “It leverages a comprehensive range of Leonardo proprietary payloads which can be integrated into several different Baykar platforms, in order to meet the demanding mission requirements dictated by today’s operational challenges. The start of operations at LBA Systems also epitomizes drivers which are core to our strategy: execution and production acceleration, stronger and larger industrial base, partnerships to deliver the critical mass required to respond to the European and global markets evolving demand, growth and value creation.”

Joint Venture Focuses on Next-Generation UAS

The companies said LBA Systems will co-develop next-generation uncrewed systems incorporating:

• Artificial intelligence
• Cyber resilience
• Multi-domain interoperability

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

According to Leonardo and Baykar, the current product portfolio includes six systems spanning multiple mission categories:

• KALKAN 80 kg-class platform for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions
• TB2 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) platform in two variants
• Astore Levante short-runway aircraft carrier-capable platform
• AKINCI High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) platform
• KIZILELMA unmanned combat fighter jet

Astore Levante and KIZILELMA Highlight Product Portfolio

The companies said the KIZILELMA unmanned combat aircraft recently demonstrated crewed-uncrewed teaming capabilities during testing with the Leonardo M-346 light fighter.

At the Farnborough International Airshow, Leonardo and Baykar are showcasing Astore Levante, the first LBA Systems product. According to the companies, the platform combines the Bayraktar TB3 with Leonardo technologies, including:

• Sensors
• Mission systems
• Ground control station

Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of Baykar, said, “LBA Systems is a significant initiative that combines Baykar’s field-proven, high-tech autonomous architecture and manufacturing power with Leonardo’s advanced payload and avionics capabilities. The success of KIZILELMA’s recent CUC-T tests with the M-346 has demonstrated the global maturity our autonomy has achieved per NATO standards, and has been a direct response to the demanding operational requirements of the battlefield. With LBA Systems, we will offer the global market ready and reliable solutions — from Astore Levante to KIZILELMA — beyond concepts on paper. This partnership is a strategic step that will strengthen the defense industrial base of both Europe and allied nations.”

Manufacturing Activities Underway

The companies said industrial activities for the Astore Levante and KIZILELMA platforms will be conducted at Leonardo production facilities.

Manufacturing of the first batch of Astore Levante unmanned aircraft systems is already underway, with deliveries to the end user in Italy expected later this year.

Work on the TB2 and AKINCI platforms will be carried out at Baykar’s facility in Italy.

The achievement of full operational readiness marks the beginning of Leonardo Baykar LBA Systems as a jointly operated company focused on developing and producing next-generation unmanned aerial systems for European and international customers.

Source: Press release from Leonardo and Baykar