Leonardo-Baykar JV Unveils Astore Levante Carrier Drone at Farnborough 2026
At the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, the Leonardo-Baykar joint venture LBA Systems debuted the Astore Levante, a carrier-capable UCAV based on Baykar's Bayraktar TB3. Equipped with Leonardo mission systems (radar, EW, ASW), it features folding wings and autonomous short-deck operations. The first batch is in production in Italy, with delivery to the Italian Navy expected by end of 2026 for use aboard the carrier Cavour alongside F-35Bs. Indonesia is the first export customer.
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Astore Levante UAV Unveiled at Farnborough 2026
At Farnborough 2026, Baykar Technologies and Leonardo presented the Astore Levante, a new drone for Europe based on the Turkish Bayraktar TB3 design with Italian Leonardo subsystems. The UAV is a modular multi-role platform suitable for maritime reconnaissance, target acquisition, electronic warfare, strike support, and anti-submarine warfare. Its naval variant features folding wings, reinforced landing gear, and low stall speed for autonomous takeoffs and landings from short decks without catapults or arresting cables. This capability was demonstrated during NATO exercise Steadfast Dart 2026 aboard the Turkish drone carrier TCG Anadolu. The Italian Navy has announced plans to procure the TB3 through Leonardo for integration aboard the aircraft carrier Cavour. Production of the first Astore Levante series has begun at Leonardo's Italian facilities, with delivery to an Italian end customer expected by the end of 2026. The collaboration combines a mature Turkish platform with European system integration for the growing carrier-based unmanned aviation market.
Astore Levante UAV Unveiled at Farnborough 2026
At Farnborough 2026, Baykar Technologies and Leonardo unveiled the Astore Levante, a new drone for Europe based on the Turkish Bayraktar TB3 design with Italian subsystems. The UAV is optimized for naval operations, featuring folding wings, reinforced landing gear, and autonomous takeoff/landing from ships without catapults or arresting cables. Its maritime capability was demonstrated during NATO exercise Steadfast Dart 2026, where TB3 drones operated from the Turkish amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, conducting reconnaissance and precision strikes. The Italian Navy has announced plans to procure the TB3 through Leonardo for integration aboard the aircraft carrier Cavour, alongside its F-35B fleet. Production of the first Astore Levante series has begun at Leonardo's Italian facilities, with delivery expected by end of 2026. The platform is marketed as a modular multi-role UAV suitable for maritime reconnaissance, target acquisition, electronic warfare, strike support, and anti-submarine warfare missions.
Baykar and Leonardo Unveil Astore Levante UAV at Farnborough 2026
At Farnborough 2026, Baykar Technologies and Leonardo presented the Astore Levante, a new drone based on the Turkish Bayraktar TB3 design with Italian subsystems. The UAV is optimized for maritime operations, featuring folding wings, reinforced landing gear, and autonomous takeoff/landing from short decks without catapults or arresting cables. Its capability was demonstrated during NATO exercise Steadfast Dart 2026 aboard the Turkish drone carrier TCG Anadolu, where it conducted reconnaissance and precision strikes. The Italian Navy has announced plans to procure the TB3 through Leonardo for integration aboard the aircraft carrier Cavour, alongside its F-35B fleet. LBA Systems markets the Astore Levante as a modular multi-role UAV suitable for maritime reconnaissance, target acquisition, electronic warfare, strike support, and anti-submarine warfare. Production of the first series has begun in Italy, with delivery expected by end of 2026.
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LBA Systems Debuts ‘Astore Levante’ at Farnborough Ahead of Italian Delivery
At the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, the newly formed Leonardo-Baykar joint venture LBA Systems unveiled its first product, the Astore Levante. This carrier-capable UCAV is based on Baykar's Bayraktar TB3, which already operates from the Turkish Navy's TCG Anadolu and has proven its operational value during NATO's Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise. The Astore Levante is equipped with a range of Leonardo mission systems and payloads, including surveillance radars, electronic warfare suites, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Leonardo confirmed that the first batch is in production in Italy and will be delivered to an Italian end-user (expected to be the Italian Navy) by the end of 2026. The aircraft is aimed at the European naval unmanned aviation market, offering a modular, multi-mission platform for maritime surveillance, targeting, and electronic warfare. Indonesia has also been announced as the first export customer for the baseline TB3.
LBA Systems Debuts ‘Astore Levante’ at Farnborough Ahead of Italian Delivery
At the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, the newly formed Leonardo-Baykar joint venture LBA Systems unveiled its first product, the Astore Levante. This carrier-capable UCAV is based on Baykar's Bayraktar TB3, which is already operational with the Turkish Navy aboard TCG Anadolu and has demonstrated combat capability during NATO's Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise. The Astore Levante is equipped with a range of Leonardo mission systems, including the LEOSS-T targeting turret, Gabbiano T-80UL radar, Osprey AESA radar, SAGE ESM/ELINT suite, and Brite Storm jammer, as well as an anti-submarine warfare acoustic system. The first batch is in production in Italy and expected to be delivered to an Italian end-user (likely the Italian Navy) by the end of 2026. The aircraft is aimed at the European naval unmanned aviation market, offering a modular multi-mission platform for surveillance, targeting, electronic warfare, and ASW roles.
LBA Systems Debuts ‘Astore Levante’ at Farnborough Ahead of Italian Delivery
At the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, the newly formed Leonardo-Baykar joint venture LBA Systems unveiled its first product: the Astore Levante, a carrier-capable unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) based on Baykar's Bayraktar TB3. The aircraft is equipped with Leonardo mission systems and payloads, including electro-optical, radar, electronic warfare, and anti-submarine warfare options. The first batch is already in production in Italy and is expected to be delivered to an Italian end-user (likely the Italian Navy) by the end of 2026. The TB3 platform has already demonstrated operational capability with the Turkish Navy aboard TCG Anadolu and during NATO's Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise, where it flew over 230 sorties and conducted live strikes. Indonesia has also been announced as the first export customer. The Astore Levante aims to provide a near-term, interoperable European carrier-based drone capability, with the Italian Navy expected to operate it from the aircraft carrier Cavour alongside F-35B fighters.