Türkiye’s leading drone manufacturer Baykar has completed its acquisition of historic Italian aviation firm Piaggio Aerospace, paving the way for a European production base for its unmanned aerial vehicles and civil jets.
The finalisation of the deal, announced on 1 July by Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, marks the full transfer of Piaggio Aero Industries and Piaggio Aviation—both under extraordinary administration—to Baykar.
Italian Minister Adolfo Urso welcomed the takeover as “a strategic step for the relaunch of one of the historic brands of the Italian aeronautical industry” and noted its impact on wider defence cooperation with Türkiye, including joint projects with Italian aerospace giant Leonardo.
Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar said the company aims to revitalise Piaggio with a future-oriented industrial strategy that also respects its legacy. “We are ready to work alongside Piaggio’s dedicated team to create new opportunities, promote innovation and build a sustainable future,” he said.
Chairman and CTO Selçuk Bayraktar described the acquisition as “an opportunity to give new impetus to Italian aeronautics” and confirmed plans to boost production of the P.180 Avanti EVO jet while turning Piaggio’s facilities into a European hub for Baykar’s flagship combat drones, including the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci UCAVs.
Baykar intends to preserve Piaggio’s brand identity while expanding its capabilities to meet growing demand in both the civil and military aviation sectors. A core objective of the company’s development plan is to reintroduce the P.180 to global markets with updated technologies and to build a European centre of excellence for aircraft and engine maintenance.
The move comes as Baykar continues to strengthen its international footprint. The company, which began UAV R&D in 2003, generated 83% of its revenue from exports and posted $1.8 billion in export sales in 2023. That figure was matched in 2024, with 90% of revenue coming from international markets.
Baykar has repeatedly ranked among Türkiye’s top 10 exporters across all sectors and has led the country’s defence and aerospace exports since 2021, according to the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly and the Secretariat of Defence Industries.
The firm accounts for a quarter of Türkiye’s total defence and aerospace exports and remains the global leader in UCAV exports, with 35 countries acquiring the Bayraktar TB2 and 15 countries signing deals for the Akinci.
First announced in December 2024, the Piaggio deal complements Baykar’s broader expansion in Italy. The company recently signed cooperation agreements with Leonardo and co-founded a joint venture, LBA Systems, to develop next-generation unmanned systems for European markets.
Ask ChatGPT
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, replacing him with General Mykhailo Drapatyi in one of the...
Southeast Asia remains the epicentre of scam centres running illegal online fraud schemes that target victims worldwide and generate billions of dolla...
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the ...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, replacing him with General Mykhailo Drapatyi in one of the most significant military leadership changes since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
AnewZ's Daybreak on 21 July covered the latest escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict, rising trade tensions between the United States and Canada, and key regional and international developments.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for setting up a foolproof public examination system in the country on Tuesday, a day after supporters of the youth-led "cockroach" movement and police clashed as they marched on parliament to protest against question paper leaks.
Lebanese army troops have begun deploying in the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, marking the first major step in a U.S.-brokered plan to reduce tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, replacing him with General Mykhailo Drapatyi in one of the most significant military leadership changes since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Southeast Asia remains the epicentre of scam centres running illegal online fraud schemes that target victims worldwide and generate billions of dollars annually. The UN estimates scam losses across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand reached up to $114.1 billion in 2025.
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has chaired his first Cabinet meeting, pledging to make the cost of living his government's central priority while signalling a broader effort to restore confidence in Britain's government and strengthen its international standing.
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the Caspian Sea rather than through the Indian Ocean.
Russian strikes hit multiple locations across Ukraine, setting a large hardware store ablaze in the northeastern city of Sumy and damaging a residential building in the country's east, as fighting between the two sides continued to intensify.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment