Amid ongoing debates regarding Europe’s security, the UAV agreement between Baykar and Leonardo received significant coverage in the European press.

A collaboration agreement was signed yesterday between Baykar, one of Turkey’s leading unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturers, and the Italian defense giant Leonardo, one of Europe’s largest defense firms.

The agreement garnered wide coverage in the European press. Leading Italian newspapers such as La Repubblica reported under the headline “Leonardo and Baykar Embark on a $100 Billion UAV Hunt,” highlighting that Baykar and Leonardo are now officially allies starting a hunt in the UAV market with a projected value of $100 billion over ten years. The news mentioned that through this partnership, both companies aim to leverage their expertise to jointly produce UAVs, swiftly obtain certifications from Italy, and carry out sales to Europe and other countries. The report emphasized that Baykar’s UAVs have been sold to 36 countries, generating nearly $2 billion in annual revenue, and highlighted the two companies’ goal of presenting a prototype within the 12-18 month timeframe, signifying the beginning of their joint journey.

“No Free Peace” was the headline in Italy’s Corriere della Sera as they announced the Baykar-Leonardo collaboration focusing on UAVs. The report quoted Leonardo’s CEO Roberto Cingolani stating, “There is no free peace, and defense is necessary.” It highlighted the partnership as part of the “Global Security System Project,” following Leonardo’s recent cooperation with the German company Rheinmetall on armored combat vehicles and now joining forces with Baykar to become a world leader in the UAV sector. The news mentioned that Baykar and Leonardo are currently working on a business model and plan to combine their technologies to dominate an estimated $100 billion European market within the next ten years.

“Harnessing Air Superiority” declared Il Messaggero as they shared the collaboration between Leonardo and Baykar, aiming to achieve air superiority in UAVs. The article anticipated the first model produced within the Italian-Turkish axis to be a major UAV expected to be unveiled next year. It quoted Leonardo’s CEO Cingolani, who highlighted the challenges faced by the defense industry with UAVs, artificial intelligence, 6th-generation fighter jets, cybersecurity, and space, emphasizing the urgency and necessity of technological cooperation.

“Europe Arms Itself” was the headline in Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, acknowledging the imminent arrival of Turkey’s UAV by Leonardo. The news stated that the two companies signed an agreement in Rome to develop unmanned technologies after months of negotiations. The report additionally mentioned the collaboration between the two companies aiming to produce drones together, with expectations of dominating the European market with a value exceeding 100 billion euros in the next ten years.

“The Road to European Defense Unity” was the topic in Les Echos, reporting on the creation of a new joint venture between Italy and Turkey to supply the European continent with high-tech drones.

“Bridging Europe’s Defense” according to De NRC, highlighting a new step towards European defense with Italian and Turkish companies uniting to produce high-tech drones.

Overall, the European press extensively covered the collaboration agreement between Baykar and Leonardo, reflecting the strategic importance of their partnership in the evolving UAV market, especially regarding Europe’s security concerns.