Leonardo establishes new defense R&D subsidiary in Kyiv

Italian aerospace and defense group Leonardo has established Leonardo Ukraine, a new subsidiary headquartered in Kyiv. The entity is fully owned through Leonardo International and is designed to function as an industrial and technological hub focused on scientific and engineering research and development.

The company will specialize in several high-tech areas, including the design of communication equipment, precision navigation and measurement systems, advanced software architectures, and the maintenance of electronic and optical systems.

CEO Lorenzo Mariani has expressed interest in collaborating with Ukraine's defense ecosystem, noting the country's rapid development of tactical solutions such as electronic warfare, anti-drone countermeasures, and AI-integrated target interception. The move aims to leverage the speed at which Ukrainian industries test and deploy new technologies. Additionally, Leonardo plans to test its Michelangelo Dome integrated air defense system in Ukraine.