Italian high-tech firm Leonardo set to work with Turkish SMEs

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

An Italian firm active in aviation and defense plans to move into new markets with the help of partnerships with Turkish companies, according to a top official at the firm.

Global high-tech firm Leonardo plans to work together with Turkish small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME), Marco Buratti, Leonardo’s senior vice president for international marketing and strategic campaigns, said on Jan. 16.

In the wake of major Turkish civil and military projects, including the T129 helicopter, the Meltem-3 coastal patrol program, naval sensors and defense systems and more recently, the Göktürk satellite program, Leonardo is working on new collaborations, Buratti told Anadolu Agency.

“Leonardo helps provide security for the Vessel Traffic Management System and the coastline and seaports. It cooperates with the Turkish defense industry to supply and adapt products, to manufacture airframes and co-develop new products,” he said.

The firm hopes to raise its joint investments and get into new markets alongside Turkey through strengthening its technological partnership with Turkish companies such as SMEs, Buratti stressed.

“Numerous SMEs are already working indirectly on Leonardo programs in Turkey through their collaboration with companies, such as the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI) and defense company ASELSAN, among others. This constitutes an excellent basis for further collaborations,” he said.

Buratti added that Leonardo would look to partner with local SMEs active in industry and also involved in high-tech research, like the ones in the innovation hubs in the capital Ankara, as well as Istanbul.

“As part of this, Leonardo proposed to Turkey its Liaison and General Purpose Aircraft tender with its C-27J aircraft,” said Buratti, adding that the firm aims to boost its investments in Turkey and eyes potential projects.

He underlined that Leonardo would concentrate its work on a variety of potential programs, including helicopters and other projects.