LBA Systems unveils 'Astore Levante' carrier-capable UCAV at Farnborough; first batch to be delivered to Italy by end of 2026

Published Jul 24, 07:04 AM UTC

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.