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Baykar forms partnership with Italian company that sells weapons to Israel

Baykar and Italian defense company Leonardo have established a joint venture called "LBA Systems" at the Paris Air Show. Following this collaboration, it has emerged that Leonardo has long been providing weapons and military technology to the Israeli army. Journalist Bahadır Özgür has listed Leonardo's military contributions to Israel one by one.

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One of the most notable signings at the Paris Air Show came from the Turkish and Italian defense industries. Baykar and Leonardo, one of Italy's leading companies, announced that they have established a joint venture called “LBA Systems” as part of a strategic cooperation.

At the Paris Air Show, one of the world's largest aviation fairs held in the French capital, Paris, a critical cooperation protocol was signed between the Turkish defense industry company Baykar and the Italian defense company Leonardo.

Baykar Chairman of the Board Selçuk Bayraktar and Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani attended the signing ceremony.

The new partnership announced to the public at the ceremony will operate under the name “LBA Systems”. The company's focus will be on developing advanced aviation technologies and defense systems.

The newly established company is expected to work specifically in the fields of advanced defense systems and aviation technologies. According to the statements, the goal is to create an industrial synergy between the two countries by combining the engineering capacity and technological expertise of both companies.

LEONARDO’S HISTORY WITH ISRAEL

However, the parties to the cooperation drew as much attention as the cooperation itself. LBA Systems' Italian partner, Leonardo, is a name that has been the target of criticism, particularly from human rights organizations and international civil society, due to the defense projects it has been conducting with Israel for years.

According to information obtained by Gazete Pencere, Leonardo has previously supplied military aircraft and electronic warfare systems to the Israeli Air Force. These commercial relations have frequently come to the fore alongside the military operations Israel has been conducting in Gaza, and the company's name has occasionally been involved in protest actions.

WHAT DOES LEONARDO PRODUCE FOR THE ISRAELI ARMY?

It has emerged that the Italian defense company Leonardo, with which Baykar formed a partnership within the scope of the Paris Air Show, has long been providing weapons and military technology to the Israeli army. Journalist Bahadır Özgür listed Leonardo's military contributions to Israel one by one.

Here are some of the systems that Leonardo produces and supplies for the Israeli army:

* Rapid-fire naval guns for the Israeli Navy's Sa'ar 4.5, Sa'ar 5, and Sa'ar 6 warships.

* Leonardo's subsidiary, RADA Electronic Industries, provides radar software for the 'Iron Dome'.

* Leonardo's subsidiary, DRS Sustainment Systems, provides heavy-duty tank trailers to the Israeli army.

* Supplier of the Israeli Air Force's M-346 and AW119Kx training aircraft.

* In 2019, Leonardo signed a contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defense for seven AW119KX single-engine helicopters.

* In June 2023, Leonardo signed a contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defense regarding tactical radar systems for armored vehicles.

* In February 2023, two agreements were signed in the field of innovation with the Israel Innovation Authority and Tel Aviv University.

(Source: The company's annual reports and reports from Who Profits, an organization that tracks companies that have military agreements with Israel)