Baykar and Leonardo have established a joint venture to capture a share of Europe’s $100 billion drone market. The initiative focuses on assembling drones in Turkey and Italy, leveraging both countries’ expertise in UAV technology, with the first prototype set to be Baykar’s Akinci drone. The partnership may lead to a Turkish UAV serving the Global Combat Air Programme as a backup force.
Baykar, a leading Turkish UAV manufacturer, has partnered with Italy’s Leonardo to penetrate Europe’s projected $100 billion drone market. Their joint venture aims for a 50-50 collaboration in assembling drones in Turkey and Italy. This setup facilitates certification processes, benefitting market entry within Europe, which is poised for significant developments in unmanned technologies, as emphasized by Leonardo’s CEO Roberto Cingolani.
The initial prototype will be based on Baykar’s Akinci drone, set to be completed within a year. This model can carry a substantial payload of 1.5 tonnes, comparable to fighter munitions. Baykar’s chairman, Selçuk Bayraktar, remarked that although Leonardo has previously integrated systems into their drones, this venture signifies an extensive collaboration into unmanned capabilities.
There is also potential for Baykar’s Kizilelma unmanned fighter to serve as a ‘Loyal Wingman’ for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) fighter, which includes partnerships among Anglo-Italian-Japanese entities. While Cingolani views the partnership as an opportunity for advancing drone capabilities, he cautioned that early discussions must clarify operational requirements and configurations before proposals can be made.
This alliance represents a significant step towards enhancing Europe’s drone capabilities amidst a growing market. Key factors include the integration of advanced drone technologies and collaborative efforts between Turkish and Italian firms. As the defense landscape shifts, the joint venture not only aims to fill existing gaps in unmanned technologies but also signals a possible decrease in reliance on U.S. drone systems amid changing geopolitical relations.
Original Source: www.defensenews.com
