Authors Martin Gillet & Benoit Denet
Baykar and Leonardo are turning a new page in unmanned technologies by joining forces. The two tech giants have established a 50-50 joint venture, LBA Systems, headquartered in Italy. The new company will focus on the entire lifecycle of unmanned aerial systems — from design and development to production and maintenance. By combining the industrial know-how and synergy of both companies, LBA Systems aims to play a key role in shaping the future of the sector.
Baykar and Leonardo have officially announced the launch of a new joint venture to develop unmanned technologies. The two companies had signed a memorandum of understanding in early March in Rome.
NEW JOINT VENTURE: LBA SYSTEMS
The newly formed company, LBA Systems, will be equally owned by Baykar and Leonardo. Headquartered in Italy for both legal and operational purposes, LBA Systems will focus on the design, development, production, and maintenance of unmanned aerial systems, drawing on the strong synergy between the two partners.
STRATEGIC DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES
With a broad portfolio covering all segments of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, Baykar will focus on the design and development of advanced unmanned platforms as part of this collaboration. Leonardo, on the other hand, will provide high-tech electronic systems and payloads, while also enabling manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) and swarm capabilities. In addition, Leonardo will lead qualification and certification efforts.
This strategic alliance marks Europe’s determination to catch up in the drone sector.
Drone Bayraktar Akinci
With its unique fuselage and wing design Bayraktar Akinci platform is a strategic-class platform which can carry various payloads.
Bayraktar AKINCI is equipped with dual artificial intelligence avionics which supports for signal processing, sensor fusion and situational awareness in real time.
Bayraktar AKINCI is capable of conducting operations that are performed with fighter jets. It carries electronic support systems, dual satellite communication systems, air-to-air radar, collision avoidance radar and synthetic aperture radar.
Bayraktar AKINCI can be used in air-to-ground and air-to-air attack missions as well.
With its triple redundant electronics hardware and software systems, Bayraktar AKINCI is capable of carrying the following payloads:
• Mini Smart Munition MAM-L
• Mini Smart Munition MAM – C
• Cirit Missile
• L-UMTAS Missile
• Mini Smart Munition Bozok
• MK-81, MK-82, MK-83 Guided Bombs (JDAM)\
• Wing Assisted Guided Bomb MK-82
• Air-to-Air Missile Gokdogan and Bozdogan
• Stand-Off Missile SOM-A
Bayraktar AKINCI will be equipped with a multifunction AESA Radar system for air-to-air, synthetic, meteorology estimation.
Drone Bayraktar TB3
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV is an armed unmanned aerial vehicle system, currently being developed indigenously by Baykar and capable of takeoff and landing on short runway aircraft carriers. Besides reconnaissance/surveillance and intelligence missions, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV can launch an assault operation with the smart munitions stationed under its wings.
The Bayraktar TB3 can conduct armed operations overseas due in part to custom capabilities, like foldable wings that enable use on aircraft carriers.
The Bayraktar TB3 can be operated from very remote distances thanks to its Line-Of-Sight and Beyond-Line-Of-Sight communications capabilities.
8.35 metres Length
14 metres Wingspan
280 kilograms Payload Capacity
21+ Hours Endurance
1600 kilograms Maximum Take Off Weight
