Italy tests MBDA weapons for the Astore Levante, the Leonardo-Baykar drone built on the TB3

Italy’s air force is testing whether European missile maker MBDA can supply weapons for the Astore Levante, a Turkish-designed armed drone that Leonardo and Baykar are now building in Italy. Air force chief Gen. Antonio Conserva said no weapon choices have been made, and that Turkish munitions are the natural option for the moment.

Conserva set out the plan in an interview with Defense News, published on 12 October. The service intends to buy six aircraft, first as three systems of two drones each, and will decide later whether to expand the fleet. The drone is to replace the air force’s MQ-1 Predators for surveillance, armed support to ground troops and the training of drone pilots.

A Turkish airframe with Italian electronics

The Astore Levante is derived from Baykar’s Bayraktar TB3. Leonardo adds its own sensors, mission systems and ground control station. Both companies announced on 21 July, at the Farnborough International Airshow, that their joint venture LBA Systems was fully operational. Each partner holds 50 percent and the company is headquartered in Italy. According to the announcement, the first batch is being manufactured at Leonardo’s production sites, with delivery to an Italian end user expected later this year.

LBA Systems also lists the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci, the Kalkan reconnaissance drone and the Kizilelma uncrewed combat aircraft in its range, which Leonardo says will be adapted to European certification standards. Conserva said certification of the Astore Levante is expected at the end of 2026 or in early 2027. That approval is a precondition for selling the drone in Europe.

Weapons still open

At Farnborough the drone was shown with Roketsan’s MAM family of guided munitions and Baykar’s Kemankes-1 mini cruise missile. Conserva said the air force is also working with MBDA and with smaller Italian companies on alternatives. A European weapons fit would reduce the Italian version’s dependence on Turkish suppliers, though the airframe itself remains a Baykar design.

Naval interest and wider context

In April the Italian Navy said it was considering the TB3 as a carrier-based drone for the aircraft carrier Cavour, which also operates F-35B jets. The TB3 already flies from Turkey’s amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu. Indonesia, another TB3 customer, is expected to base the type on the carrier Garibaldi, which it bought from Italy.

Baykar has been building a European footprint, including its takeover of Italy’s Piaggio Aerospace.

Asked about Germany joining the GCAP sixth-generation fighter programme with Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, Conserva said he supports the idea and called Germany a strategic partner, adding that a political and industrial agreement would be needed first.