Baykar and Leonardo to reveal advances in future air combat partnership

Turkish defense company Baykar and Italy's Leonardo are preparing to showcase the latest advancements in their strategic partnership on future air combat systems at the Farnborough International Airshow, one of the world's premier aerospace and defense exhibitions. The two companies will hold a briefing on Monday to present progress on their manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) trials, which have been conducted in Türkiye using Leonardo's M-346 advanced jet trainer and Baykar's Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned combat aircraft.

Key Findings and Next Phase

As the program enters its next stage, the partners will share critical results from the test flights and outline planned activities for the coming period. The collaboration, which began with a memorandum of understanding in March 2025 and was formalized with the establishment of the LBA Systems joint venture in June 2025, combines Baykar's expertise in unmanned platforms with Leonardo's advanced electronic systems and mission payloads. The partnership aims to play a leading role in shaping the future of unmanned aviation.

Bayraktar TB3 Showcase

Baykar will also display the Bayraktar TB3 unmanned aerial vehicle at the airshow. Designed to operate from short-runway platforms, the TB3 has become one of the flagship platforms supporting LBA Systems' ambitions to expand into the European market. The exhibition is expected to demonstrate that the companies' cooperation extends beyond experimental trials and is backed by mature, near-production platforms.

Strategic Message for the Industry

The choice of Farnborough as the venue for these announcements carries a strategic message for the global defense industry and NATO allies. The partnership is regarded as an important component of Europe's efforts to rapidly enhance capabilities in unmanned aerial systems and manned-unmanned teaming, allowing the companies to showcase tangible progress directly to industry representatives and potential customers.