Baykar will debut its advanced Turkish drones at the 2025 Paris Air Show, marking a major milestone for the country’s defense sector and UAV exports.
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| Baykar will showcase Turkish-made UAVs at the Paris Air Show for the first time, in partnership with Leonardo, signaling global ambitions in aerospace innovation. Image: DS/ CH |
Istanbul, Turkey — June 11, 2025:
Turkish defense manufacturer Baykar is set to unveil its advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the first time at the prestigious 2025 International Paris Air Show, which will be held from June 16 to 22 at Paris–Le Bourget Airport. This marks a significant moment for Turkey’s rapidly growing defense industry as it makes a high-profile entry onto one of the world’s most important aerospace stages.
As one of the largest UAV exporters globally, Baykar will participate through its newly formed joint venture with Italian defense giant Leonardo SpA, named LBA Systems. This will be the partnership’s official international launch. The collaboration aims to integrate Leonardo’s advanced payloads, sensors, and electronic systems with Baykar’s combat-tested drone platforms, combining European system integration with Turkish engineering expertise.
In a promotional video released Tuesday on YouTube titled “Let’s meet at #ParisAirShow,” Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani and Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar personally invited attendees to visit their display. Cingolani emphasized the strength of the collaboration, calling it “a synergy of advanced technologies,” while Bayraktar described the venture as “a perfect alliance” of innovation and shared vision.
Among the UAVs to be presented are the Bayraktar Akıncı, a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) with strategic strike capabilities, and the Bayraktar TB3, the world’s first UAV designed for takeoff and landing on short-runway naval vessels. Also on display will be Kemankes 1, a mini AI-powered cruise missile boasting a range of over 200 kilometers and precision targeting capabilities.
This appearance at the Paris Air Show represents the first time Turkish UAVs will be featured at the event, underscoring the country’s growing influence in the global defense and aerospace sectors. Baykar has already signed export agreements with 35 countries for its Bayraktar TB2 and 15 countries for the Akıncı, placing it among the world’s top UAV producers.
As international demand for autonomous and AI-enhanced military technologies intensifies, Baykar’s debut in Paris highlights Turkey’s ambitions to be a leader in next-generation aerospace innovation, strengthening its presence on both European and global defense stages.