Italian Officials Observe Turkish Baykar Drone Flights

A high-level delegation from Italy’s Defense Ministry visited Baykar’s facilities in Tekirdağ and Istanbul to examine the company’s unmanned aerial platforms and defense technologies.

On October 7, Baykar said in a statement that the delegation was led by Italian Deputy Minister of Defense Matteo Perego di Cremnago and included Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Antonio Conserva, Army Commander Lieutenant General Carmine Masiello, and Deputy Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto. Representatives from Leonardo, Italy’s state-owned defense company — Co-Head of Strategy and Innovation Simone Ungaro and Co-Head of Business Development Carlo Gualdaroni — were also part of the visit.

The Italian officials were joined by senior Turkish defense figures, including the Head of Turkey’s Defense Industry Agency (SSB) Prof. Haluk Görgün, Commander of the Land Forces Gen. Metin Tokel, Commander of the 1st Army Gen. Bahtiyar Ersay, and ROKETSAN General Manager Murat Ikinci. They were hosted by Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar and CEO Haluk Bayraktar.

At Baykar’s AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, the delegation observed a joint flight demonstration featuring the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV, and Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned fighter aircraft. During the display, the Bayraktar TB3 conducted a live firing exercise using MAM-L smart munitions produced by ROKETSAN.

Following the demonstration, the delegation visited the Özdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center in Istanbul, where Baykar officials briefed them on ongoing projects and the company’s future technological plans.

The visit marked one of the most senior-level defense engagements between Italy and Turkey in recent months, reflecting growing dialogue on defense technology and industrial cooperation.