Leonardo has published its avionics for Baykar’s UAV platforms, including EO/IR, radar, IRST, and electronic warfare systems, in its Industrial Plan 2025.
The Industrial Plan 2025 foresees the integration of Leonardo’s avionics into Baykar’s platforms. The sensors include Gabbiano nose-mounted radar, the Osprey family of AESA radars, Skyward IRST, and the LEOSS S/T EO/IR system.
Gabbiano is a modular surveillance radar capable of tracking surface targets and acting as a SAR/GMTI. The instrumented range for maritime surveillance missions is 220 nautical miles. Gabbiano may be intended for Akıncı and Bayraktar TB3 UCAVs due to nose structures being suitable for such integration.
Skyward IRST is a multi-function IRST system currently used on Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighters. Skyward has modes for air-to-air, air-to-surface, and navigation. Thus, it might be intended for the Kızılelma unmanned fighter expected to take on air-to-air missions with its fighter-like characteristics.
The BriteStorm electronic warfare system is a fresh development for UAVs as a stand-in jammer. It is hard to say what the intended platforms could be, but there is a possibility that BriteStorm could be used as an onboard self-defence jammer due to its small size and low power requirements.
The plan also shows the types of UAVs open to cooperation within the scope of the recently formed Baykar-Leonardo JV. These include Mini UAV, Kalkan VTOL UAV, Bayraktar TB2, Bayraktar TB3, Akıncı UCAV, and Kızılelma unmanned fighter. An interesting part of this section is the inclusion of Collaborative Combat missions with fighters being included for Kızılelma, in line with Leonardo CEO’s statement regarding Kızılelma’s possible use as a loyal wingman in the GCAP programme.
Production within the JV structure is expected to begin in 2026, with joint working groups also to be formed.
