Drones and radars: Can Turkey-Italy defense trade bring political benefits?
A possible Baykar-Leonardo partnership and Baykar’s acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace may go beyond greater defense cooperation between Turkey and Italy to improve Ankara’s relations with the West.
The recent meeting between Roberto Cingolani, CEO of Italy’s defense and aerospace giant Leonardo, and Selcuk Bayraktar, chairman and chief technology officer of Baykar, Turkey’s rapidly growing drone and technology manufacturer, underscores the burgeoning defense and geopolitical ties between Ankara and Rome.
Cingolani’s Jan. 23 visit to Istanbul generated buzz in the media, coming as it did after Baykar’s acquisition, on Dec. 27, of Italy’s venerable aviation company Piaggio Aerospace, a reflection of the Turkish company’s ambitions for growth.
On Dec. 25, Cingolani had told the state-run Anadolu Agency, "Leonardo's product portfolio, what we call ‘payload,’ that is, the electronic systems and sensor systems on the aircraft, can be very well compatible with the UAVs produced by Baykar.”
While the specifics of what Cingolani and Bayraktar discussed are not publicly known, a partnership between their companies would take Baykar to new heights. In addition, relations between Turkey and Italy would be expected to improve, despite potential political tensions and challenges.
