The Leonardo-Baykar joint venture LBA Systems introduced Astore Levante in Farnborough.
The joint venture LBA Systems, established between the Italian defense and aerospace company Leonardo and the Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar, showcased its first product, the ship-launched unmanned aerial vehicle Astore Levante, for the first time at the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow. According to information reported by Naval News, the serial production of the vehicle is currently ongoing at Leonardo’s facilities in Italy, with the first deliveries planned for the end of 2026 to the Italian Navy.
Astore Levante is based on the Bayraktar TB3 platform, which Baykar developed for ship takeoff and landing. Leonardo is adapting the platform to European naval operational needs by adding its own mission systems and payload integration to the vehicle. In this respect, the project stands out as one of the rare examples that combines Turkish platform technology with Italian sensor and electronic warfare capabilities under a single roof.
Design suitable for short decks
The most notable feature of the vehicle is its ability to operate from short-deck ships, thanks to its foldable wings and reinforced landing gear. The Astore Levante, with autonomous takeoff and landing capabilities, can perform maritime reconnaissance, electronic warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and armed reconnaissance missions with its modular and multi-role architecture.
Among the payload options provided by Leonardo are the LEOSS-T electro-optical/infrared turret, Gabbiano T-80UL and Osprey 20/30 AESA radars, SAGE electronic support/ELINT package, Brite Storm jamming system, ULISSES acoustic system, IFF 428 identification system, and SDR SRT-800 radio. This range of sensors aims to ensure that the vehicle is not limited to a single mission but can be used in different configurations on the same platform.
The naval legacy of Bayraktar TB3
The Bayraktar TB3, which forms the basis of Astore Levante, is currently being used alongside the Turkish Navy’s multi-purpose amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu. TB3 is known as one of the first armed unmanned aerial vehicles capable of taking off and landing from short-deck ships. This operational background indicates that Astore Levante, based on the same foundation, has a mature starting point for ship integration.
The Italian Navy plans to deploy Astore Levante on the aircraft carrier Cavour. According to information reported by Naval News, Indonesia is also among the export customers for the vehicle. Thus, the platform finds users in both a NATO member navy and the Asia-Pacific market.
Significance for Turkey
This partnership shows that Baykar’s international collaborations, which have accelerated in recent years, have also extended to the field of maritime platforms. The combination of a Turkish manufacturer’s platform design with the sensor ecosystem of an established European defense company indicates that the Turkish defense industry is progressing not only as an exporter of end products but also as a technology provider for international joint production programs.
Sources
- Naval News – “LBA Systems Debuts Astore Levante at Farnborough Ahead of Italian Delivery” – July 24, 2026. The product introduction, technical configuration, delivery schedule, and user countries were utilized. Link
- Baykar / Leonardo corporate information – Used for the operational use of Bayraktar TB3 with TCG Anadolu and for the platform foundation.
