Italian defense giant opens an office in Kyiv
The Italian defense company Leonardo has opened a subsidiary in Ukraine. “Leonardo Ukraine” will focus on defense technologies, specifically developing communications and navigation systems, software, and electronic and optical solutions.
The company is already registered in Ukraine and plans to work directly with the local defense innovation ecosystem. Leonardo also intends to test its “Michelangelo Dome” air defense system in Ukraine.
Leonardo Opens a Company in Ukraine
The new company is named “Leonardo Ukraine.” It is wholly owned by Leonardo International, a subsidiary of the Italian defense group. The company was registered in the Ukrainian business registry back in late May. However, news of its establishment only became public after the publication of Leonardo’s semi-annual financial report.
A company representative confirmed that all legal procedures required to begin operations in Ukraine have already been completed. “Leonardo Ukraine’s” authorized capital is 5.13 million hryvnias, which exceeds 100,000 euros.
What “Leonardo Ukraine” Will Focus On
The new company will focus primarily on technologies that can be used in the defense sector. Its main areas of focus include:
- scientific and engineering research;
- development of communication and navigation systems;
- development of specialized software;
- provision of IT services;
- development of electronic technologies;
- development of optical technologies.
In other words, this is not simply a matter of representing the Italian company. Leonardo wants to work directly within the Ukrainian defense sector and contribute to the developments taking place in Ukraine. In particular, the company plans to integrate into the defense innovation ecosystem centered around the state-run Brave1 cluster.
The Italian company wants to work with Ukrainian developers
In recent years, Ukraine has become one of the largest centers for the development of military technologies. The fields of unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare systems, software, and missile technologies are developing particularly rapidly. Leonardo’s entry into the Ukrainian market will allow the company to work more closely with these development projects and Ukrainian manufacturers.
For Ukraine itself, this means the opportunity to gain another major international partner in the field of defense technologies. Air defense is a separate area of focus. Leonardo intends to test its multi-domain integrated air defense system, “Michelangelo Dome,” in Ukraine. This is a comprehensive approach to air defense that combines various means of detecting and engaging air targets into a single system.
Thus, Leonardo’s presence in Ukraine may encompass not only research and development but also the practical testing of defense technologies in wartime conditions. The establishment of “Leonardo Ukraine” also indicates that major European defense companies are increasingly active in the Ukrainian sector. For them, Ukraine is not only an arms market but also an important partner in the development of new military technologies. This was reported by Euractiv.
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