- Türkiye’s rapid progress in UAV development, achieved through a more agile and innovation-driven approach as part of a fast-growing defense industry, represents a valuable source of inspiration for Europe
- Leonardo-Baykar deal is more than just a commercial agreement; it is a strategic partnership that has the potential to reshape Europe’s UAV landscape and redefine the nature of Turkish-European defense cooperation
The author is a resident fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) and a NATO2030 Global Fellow.
ISTANBUL
The recent agreement between Italy's Leonardo and Türkiye's Baykar represents a watershed moment in the development and deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within the European defense landscape. This collaboration, focused on developing next-generation UAVs, highlights both the growing significance of unmanned systems in modern warfare and the evolving nature of defense cooperation between Türkiye and European nations. Europe has long struggled to develop a strong domestic drones industry, and this deal could be a turning point in filling critical gaps in its defense sector.
The strategic significance of the Leonardo-Baykar deal
The significance of the Leonardo-Baykar partnership is multifaceted. First, it represents a major step in diversifying Europe’s defense industrial base away from its historical dependence on US technology. European nations, including Italy, have long relied on American UAVs, such as the MQ-9 Reaper, to fulfill their operational requirements. However, this dependence has its drawbacks, such as strict US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and delays in securing necessary technology and equipment. Leonardo’s CEO Roberto Cingolani noted that rising tensions between the Trump administration and Europe could worsen the continent’s structural defense vulnerabilities, adding urgency to European leaders’ discussions in Brussels on strengthening defense capabilities. By partnering with Baykar, Leonardo can develop a European alternative that mitigates these constraints while advancing Italy’s UAV ambitions.
At the same time, the deal reflects the growing recognition of Türkiye as a global leader in UAV technology. Baykar, with its highly successful Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones, has demonstrated the ability to produce cost-effective, battle-proven systems that have been instrumental in conflicts in Libya, Syria, Karabakh, and Ukraine. European nations, which have traditionally lagged in UAV development, stand to benefit significantly from Türkiye’s expertise in designing and manufacturing effective UAVs.
The added value for Italy
For Italy, the Leonardo-Baykar deal is a strategic opportunity to bolster its defense industry and establish itself as a key player in the European UAV sector. Leonardo, one of Europe’s largest defense firms, has extensive experience in avionics, radar, and electronic warfare systems, but it has struggled to produce competitive UAV platforms. Through this partnership, Leonardo can integrate its advanced sensors and communication systems into Baykar’s proven UAV designs, producing more sophisticated systems beneficial to both companies.
The deal also aligns with Italy’s broader ambitions to enhance its defense industrial capabilities. Rome has been advocating for greater European strategic autonomy, especially in defense, seeking to reduce reliance on non-European suppliers. By investing in a collaborative UAV program with Türkiye, Italy can play a leading role in shaping Europe’s future airpower capabilities, ensuring that its armed forces — and those of its European allies — have access to advanced unmanned systems without necessarily depending on the US for an increasingly important capability segment. This would also enable Italy to diversify its supply chain and reduce the risk of bottlenecks.
From an economic standpoint, the agreement could also provide significant benefits. Strengthening Italy’s UAV production capabilities would not only secure jobs and investment in the country’s defense sector but also position Leonardo as a major exporter of advanced drone systems. Given the increasing global demand for military UAVs — a market segment that Leonardo’s and Baykar’s leadership expect will reach $100 billion over the next decade — Italy could emerge as a key supplier to European and NATO allies, as well as non-European partners seeking alternatives to American or Chinese systems.
The broader European perspective
While the Leonardo-Baykar deal is particularly beneficial for Italy, its implications extend to the broader European defense industry. Europe has long faced challenges in developing indigenous UAV capabilities due to a combination of bureaucratic inefficiencies, fragmented defense policies, and a historical focus on manned aircraft. As UAV technology advanced, European nations realized they were falling behind. Initiatives such as the European Medium Altitude Long Endurance (EuroMALE) UAV project, which involves France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, have been marred by delays and cost overruns. This slow progress has left European militaries with limited domestic options, reinforcing reliance on American UAVs. In a way, the new joint venture highlights Italy’s desire to develop robust UAV capabilities beyond the EuroMALE and its dubious operational relevance for high-intensity combat.
Türkiye’s rapid progress in UAV development, achieved through a more agile and innovation-driven approach as part of a fast-growing defense industry, represents a valuable source of inspiration for Europe. By collaborating with Baykar, European defense firms can accelerate their own UAV programs, benefiting from Türkiye’s streamlined procurement processes, rapid prototyping capabilities, and effective use of private-sector investment in defense R&D. This collaboration could pave the way for broader European-Turkish defense cooperation, including artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, autonomous systems, and space technology.
Implications and challenges for Türkiye’s defense industry
For Türkiye, the Leonardo-Baykar partnership represents an important milestone in its efforts to expand defense industrial cooperation with European nations. Türkiye has historically faced restrictions in accessing European defense technology due to several reasons, including political tensions between Türkiye and certain EU member states concerning issues such as defense procurement policies, geopolitical disputes, and export control measures.
Not least important, divergent strategic priorities between Türkiye and European nations pose obstacles to long-term cooperation. However, this deal with Italy signals a shift in perceptions, demonstrating that at least some European countries recognize the strategic value of collaborating with Turkish defense firms.
From a technological standpoint, working with Leonardo provides Baykar with access to advanced European-made avionics, sensor systems, and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, which can enhance the performance of its UAV platforms. Leonardo’s state-of-the-art Gabbiano and Osprey families of radars, for example, would enhance the surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of Baykar’s UAVs, while Leonardo’s advanced EW and secure communications payloads would increase the non-kinetic lethality and overall resilience of the aircraft in heavily denied operational environments. In addition, the collaboration could pave the way for more Turkish UAVs within NATO and EU markets, further integrating Türkiye into the European defense ecosystem.
Politically, the deal also strengthens Türkiye’s standing within the European security architecture. As NATO grapples with emerging security threats, from Russia’s war in Ukraine to instability in the Levant and North Africa, Türkiye’s role as a key defense actor will likely increase, making Ankara a necessary interlocutor and partner to solve security crises along Europe’s borders.
Overall, the Leonardo-Baykar deal is more than just a commercial agreement; it is a strategic partnership that has the potential to reshape Europe’s UAV landscape and redefine the nature of Turkish-European defense cooperation. For Italy, it provides a critical opportunity to enhance its UAV capabilities, reduce dependency on US technology, and strengthen its defense industrial base. For Türkiye, the deal offers a pathway to deepen defense ties with Europe, expand its technological reach, and further cement its status as a leading player in the UAV market.
*Opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Anadolu.
