Baykar, one of the leading companies in Turkey’s defense industry, has announced that it will begin producing its AKINCI and TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Italy. These drones, already exported to numerous countries around the world, will now also be manufactured at the facilities of Italian aviation company Piaggio Aerospace, whose acquisition process was initiated last December and has now been completed.
In a statement, Baykar said, “The production of AKINCI and TB2 – among the most advanced UAVs currently in service – has been allocated to Piaggio Aerospace’s facilities to meet future market demand.” The deal was officially approved on June 30 by Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises, which had been overseeing Piaggio since it entered receivership.
Baykar also announced plans to revive Piaggio’s light business jet, the P.180 Avanti EVO. The company said the aircraft will include new upgrades developed in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Defense.
Although Baykar management had hinted at UAV production at Piaggio facilities back in March, this marks the first official confirmation of those plans.
The company pledged to maintain current employment levels at the Villanova d’Albenga and Genoa sites and plans to expand the workforce in line with increased production activity.
Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the Board and CTO of Baykar, stated, “This acquisition will breathe new life into Italian aviation design and manufacturing.”
Piaggio was acquired in 2014 by Mubadala, a strategic investment company based in Abu Dhabi. At that time, Mubadala aimed to develop an unmanned version of the P.180, called the Hammerhead, for the UAE. However, when Italian authorities were hesitant to approve the project, Mubadala decided to divest from the company. As a result, Baykar now gains access to the work previously done on the Hammerhead.
Italy’s Minister of Enterprises, Adolfo Urso, emphasized the significance of the deal, saying, “This agreement ensures a bright future for an aviation icon with a glorious past.”
Baykar’s acquisition of Piaggio also aligns with a cooperation agreement signed with Italian defense company Leonardo in March, which was confirmed at the Paris Air Show. As part of this partnership, Leonardo will integrate its radar and electronic systems into Baykar’s UAVs. The integration work will be carried out at Leonardo’s facilities in Ronchi dei Legionari, Turin, Rome, and Grottaglie in Italy.
