The joint project Leonardo-Bae Systems reveals the Astore Levante aircraft at Farnborough.
The company LBA Systems, a joint venture between the Italian defense and aerospace group Leonardo and the Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar, unveiled its first product, the Astore Levante drone capable of operating from ships, at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026. According to Naval News, the drone is already in production at Leonardo’s Italian facilities, and the first deliveries to the Italian Navy are expected to begin by the end of 2026.
The Astore Levante is based on the Bayraktar TB3 platform developed by Baykar for takeoff and landing from short surfaces. Leonardo has added its own mission systems and payloads to adapt the drone to the requirements of European maritime operations. The project stands out as one of the few models that combines Turkish platform engineering with Italian sensor and electronic warfare capabilities under one umbrella.
Custom Design for Short Surfaces
One of the main features of the drone is its ability to operate from ships with short decks, thanks to its foldable wings and reinforced landing gear. The Astore Levante has autonomous takeoff and landing capabilities, and a modular multi-mission architecture that allows it to perform maritime reconnaissance, electronic warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and armed reconnaissance missions.
The payload options provided by Leonardo include an LEOSS-T electro-optical/thermal ball, Gabbiano T-80UL and Osprey 20/30 AESA radars, an electronic support package SAGE, a jamming system Brite Storm, an acoustic system ULISSES, an IFF 428 identification system, and an SDR SRT-800 communication device.
The Maritime Legacy of the TB3 Drone
The Bayraktar TB3 drone, which is based on Astore Levante, is already in use by the Turkish Navy aboard the multi-role amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu. The TB3 is one of the first armed drones capable of taking off and landing from short surfaces, giving Astore Levante a mature launch point in terms of integration aboard ships.
The Italian Navy intends to deploy Astore Levante aboard the aircraft carrier Cavour. Naval News also reports that Indonesia is among the importing countries, providing the platform with users in a NATO-affiliated navy and in the Asia-Pacific market.
Significance
This project demonstrates the extension of Baykar’s international cooperation into the maritime platforms sector. The combination of a Turkish company’s structure and a European group’s sensor system indicates a shift in the Turkish defense industry from exporting final products to taking on the role of a technological partner in joint production programs.
Sources
- Naval News – “LBA Systems Debuts Astore Levante at Farnborough Ahead of Italian Delivery” – July 24, 2026. Link
- Baykar / Leonardo corporate information – for the operational use of the TB3 on board TCG Anadolu and the platform’s foundation.
