TR Baykar - News

[dBSPL]

I remember that Piaggio was in the hands of a UAE fund for a while. The fact that the company could not stand up on the aircraft side suggests that the problem is not only on the financing side, but also in project development and business model. Even earlier around 2000s, if my memory serves me correctly, it was an aviation company that attracted the interest of a few Turkish business people. The fact that the company is finally in experts' hands is a good development both for the Italians and for the Turkish-Italian industrial cooperation, and I wish it all the best.

In terms of Baykar, I think that especially the engine side will make a serious contribution to the company's operations, because they now have a subsidiary that produces aviation engine parts with a ready workforce, machine tools and even an orderbook. Ironically, Baykar is also becoming one of the JSF F-35 engine sub-parts suppliers through its subsidiary. lol.

But more importantly, I think this acquisition may also point to something else. The cooperation between the Italian MoD and Baykar.They spent significant resources on the development of the P.1HH as a multi-role/MPA UAV on Piaggio's well-known Avanti platform. If my memory serves me correctly, this system was one of the promising UAV programs of the Italians, but somehow the project failed to make concrete progress. Baykar can pick up this project incredibly quickly.

This would pave the way for the supply of Baykar(Bayraktar) systems to the Italian armed forces through its subsidiary Piaggio's P.1HH airframe. It is even possible that if Italy considers the TB-3, this will also be supplied through Piaggio. In addition to Italy, other EU countries will also have the option of an aviation company that has been handed over to Baykar's expertise.

 

[Saithan]

I have to point out that any involvement in F35 and production most likely will require US acceptance. As such I Imagine that what Baykar is buying is likely, as pointed out, the old stuff, knowhow and likely some production machinery that will enable Baykar to reach further independence from Turkish state. As someone pointed out once before Baykar is scared shitless in case AKP loses power and new government hostile takes the rudder.

 

[dBSPL]

I have to point out that any involvement in F35 and production most likely will require US acceptance. As such I Imagine that what Baykar is buying is likely, as pointed out, the old stuff, knowhow and likely some production machinery that will enable Baykar to reach further independence from Turkish state. As someone pointed out once before Baykar is scared shitless in case AKP loses power and new government hostile takes the rudder.

Piaggio's existing facilities are a drop in the bucket compared to Baykar's current/ongoing domestic facility investments and machinery park. Especially after 2020, Baykar has started to increase its capacity exponentially and is not slowing down in new employment. They are aiming to achieve another acceleration with Fergani space systems from 2026 onwards. Baykar clearly has the goal of becoming an aerospace giant. For this, it needs to expand some of its operations to foreign markets, and in line with this goal, it will continue its acquisitions as it sees opportunities like bargain buy abroad. Just like GE, Boeing etc...

 

[dBSPL]

Unfortunately, Turkish social media still cannot fully grasp the new 'situation'. The most accurate short analysis I have seen about this news came from Kubilay Yıldırım (HDS).

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1872650306892476836

"Baykar is thus taking a step towards becoming a Europe-based and global manufacturer. With its Italian location, it can enter both EDF-funded EU defense tenders and joint European projects."

"This acquisition has been interpreted as acquiring the company's P-180 and “technology”, but I don't think this was the purpose. In fact, Baykar has acquired the brand and the engineering/production capacity that could not find its place in Italy."

"Baykar invests the money it earns in its business. It is both diversifying (Fergani, Cezeri, Biosys, etc.) and expanding its existing business. Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, PG Fergani may be an entry point for the EU/ESA space programs. Although the EU may not realize it, we actually share similar fates. Baykar does not act like a Turkish businessman."

 

[selim]

Italy has space agency, several universities dealing with aviation.
They're advanced when it comes to machinery, engineering, industry.
Baykar can now recruit Italian engineers, Italian students and even broader European talent.

 

[Shtr]

Italy has space agency, several universities dealing with aviation.
They're advanced when it comes to machinery, engineering, industry.
Baykar can now recruit Italian engineers, Italian students and even broader European talent.

People try to find immediate benefits in this acquisition however I think same as you. Turkey's engineering ecosystem's capacity is saturated for the advances of defense industry. They had to acquire a big player in west especially specialized in aviation. I would bet this can be a Spanish, Germany or Italian company because of the population and a concrete experience in this field. Aviation industry is growing so fast when you compare with other fields such as self-propelled artillery. I hope such smart moves will move on in Germany and UK as well.

This kind of smart moves has another very big advantage. Engineers who want to move other countries can be convinced to continue to work for Baykar. Sometimes one engineer can create a big difference and all project depend on that person.

I honestly see no immediate gain from this acquisition in terms tech transfer but in the mid term we will benefits.

By the way, Italians are very similar to Turks in many sense. I hope this collaboration will create a big synergy.

 

[Fuzuli NL]

Italian authorities approve Baykar's acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace​

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Published on 27.12.2024, 13:12

Italian authorities approve Baykar's acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace

© Reuters.

Investing.com -- Italian authorities have given the green light to Turkey's Baykar Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi's takeover of Piaggio Aerospace. According to an official statement, the Ministry of Industry has granted approval to Baykar, a specialist in unmanned aerial vehicles. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
The sale process of Piaggio Aerospace, formerly known as Piaggio Aero Industries SpA, had attracted three binding offers. The company, which specializes in the development and production of aircraft and aircraft engines for military and civil purposes, has been up for sale for some time.
Piaggio Aerospace has been in state-supervised bankruptcy proceedings since 2018, a process typically reserved for larger companies. The company currently consists of two managed entities: Piaggio Aero and Piaggio Aviation. The company was previously owned by Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Investment Company.

Italienische Behörden genehmigen Baykar's Übernahme von Piaggio Aerospace Von Investing.com

Italienische Behörden genehmigen Baykar's Übernahme von Piaggio Aerospace

de.investing.com

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Turkish drone manufacturer takes over Piaggio Aerospace​

After six years of hanging around with new, unsuccessful rounds of bidding, Piaggio Aerospace has now found a new owner. Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar Makina will take over the Italian aerospace company. Approval from the Italian Ministry of Industry has already been received.

28.12.2024 by Volker K. Thomalla

The Italian Ministry of Defense converted a declaration of intent to purchase six Piaggio Avanti EVOs into firm orders in May 2022. © Piaggio Aerospace

The traditional Italian company Piaggio Aerospace has been under special administration since 2018. In Italian law, this expression refers to ongoing insolvency proceedings. Several rounds of bidding were carried out by the insolvency administrator, but none had so far led to the desired success. The Italian Ministry of Industry and Made in Italy has now announced that the Turkish company Baykar Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (Baykar for short) has prevailed against two competitors in the most recent bidding process. The ministry has given approval for the takeover of Piaggio Aerospace. A purchase price was not mentioned.
Piaggio Aerospace consists of two business divisions: Piaggio Aviation takes care of the development, construction and maintenance of civil and military aircraft, while Piaggio Aero takes care of the development, construction and maintenance of aviation engines.

The Hammerhead drone led to bankruptcy​

Before bankruptcy, Piaggio Aerospace was owned by Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Investment Company. The company got into financial difficulties in the fall of 2018 after the first customer for the elaborately developed Hammerhead drone canceled the order for seven more P1HHs after only one copy had been delivered. When an expected order from the Italian government dragged on, Mubadala left in November 2018 and the company had to file for bankruptcy a few days later.

The P.1HH Hammerhead is an unmanned, military version of the P.180 Avanti twin-engine business aircraft. © Piaggio Aerospace
Piaggio Aerospace is interesting for Baykar because it immediately gives the Turkish company an industrial footprint in the European Union and a market presence in the civil market. Baykar is committed to maintaining and expanding the business areas of Piaggio Aerospace. The technology of the Hammerhead drone based on the Piaggio Avanti is likely to be of minor interest to Baykar, because in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles the Turkish manufacturer is technologically much further ahead than Piaggio was.

Türkischer Drohnenhersteller übernimmt Piaggio Aerospace - Aerobuzz.de

Nach sechs Jahren Hängepartie mit immer neuen, erfolglosen Bieterrunden hat Piaggio Aerospace nun einen neuen Besitzer gefunden. Der türkische Drohnenhersteller Baykar Makina wird das italienische Aerospace-Unternehmen übernehmen. Die Genehmigung des italienischen Industrieministeriums liegt...

aerobuzz.de

 

[Ryder]

Italian Design and Turkish engineering.

All I can picture is Angry Turks and Angry Italians in the workshop.

Good Game Baykar. I wish there father was alive to witness this.

 

[dBSPL]

Part of Kai Greet's report from The Aviationist:

Baykar Bid Wins Competition to Acquire Italian Manufacturer Piaggio

Turkish manufacturer Baykar, which has risen to fame for its military UAVs, is set to purchase Piaggio Aerospace, which has been under administration

theaviationist.com

Adolfo Urso, the Italian Minister for Business, celebrated the news: “After six years of waiting, we are giving Piaggio Aerospace a future, a strategic asset for our country, with a long-term production perspective, safeguarding corporate complexes and workforce.”

(...)

Baykar CEO, Haluk Bayraktar, hinted that Piaggio as an individual brand will continue into the future as Baykar looks to preserve the company’s historical identity. The new owners will seek to increase Piaggio’s production capacity and provide employment opportunities in Italy. The Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacır, hopes the acquisition will strengthen friendship between the two nations.

Of particular interest in the years to come will be how this new ownership under a company famous for its unmanned aircraft will affect Piaggio’s existing offerings in this area. Developed from the Piaggio P.180, the unmanned P.1HH Hammerhead first flew in 2013 but a troubled development timeline, and the company’s financial woes, mean no operational aircraft have yet been delivered to customers. (...) An improved version, the P.2HH, was revealed in 2018 but has yet to be seen. Baykar may use their expertise in the field to improve upon the P.1HH and P.2HH designs further, and with its marketing prowess and existing customer base could finally get the project fully off the ground.

Piaggio in the future​

(...)

An additional area of Piaggio’s operations is the maintenance, overhaul, and assembly of aircraft engines. The company holds license agreements with several of the world’s major aircraft engine manufacturers, including Rolls Royce, Honeywell, and Pratt & Whitney, allowing Piaggio to officially act as a parts supplier, maintenance hub, and final assembly point for many widely used jet and turboprop powerplants. Among the most notable contracts secured by Piaggio is the manufacture and supply of parts for the F135 engine used internationally in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

The intended expansion of production facilities in Italy could even see current and future Baykar products assembled on production lines at Piaggio plants. The company’s success is spurring the development of yet more aircraft designs, including the TB3, a naval variant of the TB2. If the TB3 could be locally produced, it may become an attractive purchase for the Italian Navy.

Designed to utilise a ‘ski jump’ ramp for take-off, and able to land on a ship without the assistance of an arresting cable system, the TB3 would seemingly be an easy integration onto the Italian Navy’s Cavour aircraft carrier and Trieste LHD. Operating alongside the F-35B, TB3s would provide additional combat and ISR capability at a lower operational cost compared to the fifth-generation fighters, whose flight hours could be preserved for higher end taskings.

A mixed manned and unmanned carrier air wing is being pursued by many aircraft carrier operators, particularly those, like Italy, who operate STOVL carriers. Unable to field fixed wing airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft like the E-2D Hawkeye, short take-off and landing (STOL) UAVs with integrated radars or radar pods would be a step up from helicopter based AEW solutions.

The Royal Navy intends to operate its AW101 Merlin AEW platform until at least 2029, when it is hoped an unmanned capability will be able to take its place. Italy operated four Merlins in an AEW role for a number of years, but these airframes were quietly placed into storage and the most recent news is that they will have the AEW systems stripped.

 

[Shtr]

Can we add Turkish Flag to this topic as well?