Baykar Opens First Anatolian Factory in Samsun

Strategic Expansion to the Black Sea

Turkish defence giant Baykar has announced plans to open its first production facility in the Anatolian region, selecting Samsun—a key Black Sea port city—as the site for the high-tech investment.

“This new investment will bring high-tech manufacturing capabilities and high-quality jobs to Samsun. The Black Sea region will become a major hub for the aerospace and defence industries,”
— Baykar statement, cited by Daily Sabah.

The new facility marks a significant geographical expansion for Baykar, traditionally concentrated in the Marmara region. It will serve as a strategic manufacturing and R&D node, potentially enabling faster delivery times and increased export capacity.

Production line at Baykar facility featuring various UAV platforms.

Flagship Platforms and Global Market Reach

Baykar is best known for its Bayraktar TB2 tactical unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), which gained global attention after operational deployment in Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Libya.

The company’s portfolio also includes:

Bayraktar Akıncı – a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) combat drone.
Bayraktar TB3 – the world’s first armed UAV capable of operating from ships with short runways.
Kızılelma – Türkiye’s first indigenous unmanned fighter jet, currently under development.

Baykar’s UAV systems have been exported to more than 35 countries, positioning the company among the world’s top drone exporters.

Strengthening European Industrial Ties

In a parallel strategic move, Baykar recently acquired Piaggio Aerospace of Italy and established a joint venture with Leonardo, named LBA Systems, unveiled at the Paris Air Show in June.

LBA Systems will focus on the design, development, production, and lifecycle support of advanced unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The collaboration combines Baykar’s UAV design expertise with Leonardo’s capabilities in next-generation electronics, payload systems, Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), and swarming operations.

Leonardo’s key facilities engaged in the venture include:

Ronchi dei Legionari – centre of excellence for unmanned systems.
Turin – engineering and certification hub.
Rome Tiburtina – integrated multi-domain technology development.
Grottaglie – production of advanced composite materials.

Expanding in European and Global Markets

Through LBA Systems, Baykar and Leonardo aim to capture opportunities across European and international defence markets. Beyond the joint venture, both companies have agreed to explore further cooperation, including:

Joint commercial initiatives on existing platforms.
Collaboration in multi-domain digital ecosystems.
Expanded co-development programmes in advanced UAS technologies.

This integration of Turkish UAV innovation with Italian aerospace engineering reinforces NATO’s broader defence industrial base and strengthens Europe’s capacity to respond to emerging security challenges.