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
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore naviga...
Senior officials from the United States and China met in Paris this week for a new round of trade talks, as the world’s two largest economies...
Court documents released on Monday (16 March) revealed that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) ...
Governments around the world are responding cautiously to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for countries to send naval ships to the Strait ...
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Friday (13 March), according to Poland’s Operational...
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
Senior officials from the United States and China met in Paris this week for a new round of trade talks, as the world’s two largest economies attempt to manage their economic rivalry and avoid further tensions.
Court documents released on Monday (16 March) revealed that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has asked a U.S. judge to dismiss President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation suit over a 2024 documentary, arguing his re-election proves the edited 2021 speech did not harm his reputation.
Governments around the world are responding cautiously to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for countries to send naval ships to the Strait of Hormuz to protect commercial shipping and help restore the flow of global oil supplies.
Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues to launch wide‑scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure in the west. This live report tracks the latest developments.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
Senior officials from the United States and China met in Paris this week for a new round of trade talks, as the world’s two largest economies attempt to manage their economic rivalry and avoid further tensions.
Court documents released on Monday (16 March) revealed that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has asked a U.S. judge to dismiss President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation suit over a 2024 documentary, arguing his re-election proves the edited 2021 speech did not harm his reputation.
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Friday (13 March), according to Poland’s Operational Command.
Russia has imposed a fine of 35 million roubles (around $432,366) on the messaging platform Telegram for failing to remove content deemed illegal by the authorities, according to the Interfax news agency.
Madagascar's president, Michael Randrianirina announced the appointment of anti-corruption chief Mamitiana Rajaonarison as prime minister, six days after dismissing the previous premier along with the entire cabinet.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment