Leonardo appears to be moving its LBA Systems joint‑venture drones from development into active military procurement, with the Italian Air Force slated to receive a first batch of armed Astore Levante UAVs later this year.
Public reports confirm an Italian order for six drones, regulatory clearance and production start at Leonardo’s Ronchi dei Legionari plant, and the establishment of a dedicated Unmanned Business Unit.
The Italian Air Force ordered six armed drones from LBA Systems, the Leonardo‑Baykar joint venture, marking the first confirmed military contract for Astore Levante.
Defense News reported that the Italian Air Force is due to acquire six TB3‑derived drones assembled in Italy by LBA Systems, structured as three systems with two drones each.
Italy’s Air Force chief said the Astore Levante acquisition is proceeding and that the contract is already in place for three systems totaling six UAVs.
Defence Industry Europe reported that Leonardo and Baykar have completed regulatory approvals for the drone joint venture, started integrating the first aircraft at Leonardo’s Ronchi dei Legionari plant, and expect first customer deliveries before the end of 2026.
Defence Industry Europe reported that Leonardo and Baykar’s LBA Systems venture has reached full operational readiness, with initial Astore Levante production under way in Italy and first deliveries scheduled before the end of 2026, and that Leonardo has established a dedicated Unmanned Business Unit within its Aeronautics Division to coordinate the work.
UAS Weekly reported that LBA Systems moved into manufacturing the first Astore Levante batch, with Italian end‑user deliveries expected later in 2026, and that the venture’s initial portfolio spans six unmanned systems.
Leonardo appears to be building out its land‑systems business, drawing on its acquisition of Iveco Defence Vehicles and existing partnerships to expand its ground‑combat portfolio.
Public signs include the European Commission’s clearance of the Iveco Defence Vehicles deal and multiple contracts and integration tests for armoured vehicles and tanks in Italy, Brazil and with partner firms.
Leonardo and Rheinmetall said negotiations had been completed for two Italian Army contracts worth about $4.16 billion covering A2CS combat vehicles and next‑generation main battle tanks, with Leonardo’s CEO stating the programmes were ready for production.
The European Commission said it does not oppose Leonardo’s acquisition of Iveco’s defence business, finding the deal compatible with the internal market and the EEA agreement.
Leonardo and Otokar completed live‑fire integration tests of Leonardo’s 120 mm HITFACT MkII turret on Otokar’s Tulpar medium tank platform, pitching the platform as a possible replacement for Brazil’s Leopard 1A5 BR tanks.
Leonardo, through the CIO Consortium between IDV and OTO Melara, signed an initial serial production contract with the Brazilian Army for seven Centauro II 8×8 armoured vehicles, described as the first batch in a broader 98‑vehicle programme.
Leonardo appears to be scaling up its engineering footprint for the Global Combat Air Programme by establishing a dedicated hub in Turin. The move suggests a broader effort to build national engineering centres that support the Italy‑Japan‑UK combat‑air collaboration.
Public signs include the opening of Edgewing’s first national engineering facility at Leonardo’s Corso Francia site, plans for the hub to employ over 300 staff by the end of 2027 and to grow to more than 1,000 employees, the inauguration of Italy’s first national GCAP facility, description of the site as hosting hundreds of engineers on the programme, and the designation of Turin as the first of three planned Edgewing engineering hubs with similar sites expected in Japan and the UK.
Edgewing opened its first national engineering facility in Turin at Leonardo’s Corso Francia site, with engineers from the UK, Italy and Japan expected to work there on the GCAP fighter programme.
Leonardo said Turin is the first of three planned Edgewing engineering hubs, with Japan and UK sites expected to open in coming months and play the same role in programme delivery.
Edgewing described the Turin site as an engineering facility that will host hundreds of engineers working on the Italy-Japan-UK Global Combat Air Programme.
Leonardo inaugurated the first national facility in Italy for the Global Combat Air Programme, with Edgewing Italia described as the company’s first national base in Italy for the programme.
The Turin engineering hub is expected to employ more than 300 people by the end of 2027, with plans for a second building and more than 1,000 employees at full capacity.
Leonardo appears to be setting up a dedicated UK operation to produce tactical radar systems and support related defence capabilities across the United Kingdom and Europe.
Public announcements describe the new DRS UK site as a strategic hub for counter‑drone, air‑defence and active‑protection demand, with plans for local production and expanded manufacturing capacity for British and European customers.
The new DRS UK operation is framed around counter‑drone, air‑defence, and active‑protection demand for British and European customers, although the site, investment size, hiring plans, and full production timing were not disclosed.
Leonardo DRS announced the establishment of DRS UK and local UK tactical‑radar production, describing the operation as a strategic hub for serving both UK and European tactical‑radar markets.
Leonardo DRS is establishing DRS UK and opening a new UK production facility for tactical radar systems, with the site intended to expand manufacturing capacity and provide local support for British defence customers, partners, and system integrators.
Leonardo DRS did not disclose detailed facility output, and management described European growth as a flexible mix of direct sales, licensing, or both.
Paldo wrote this page from the public sources linked above. What a company appears to intend is our reading and may be wrong. If something is out of date, tell us.
