This article is published in Aerospace Daily & Defense Report part of Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), and is complimentary through Jul 28, 2026. For information on becoming an AWIN Member to access more content like this, click here.
Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani.
FARNBOROUGH, England—Leonardo’s recently appointed CEO said he is committed to the low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation and Michelangelo Dome missile defense efforts launched by his predecessor, Roberto Cingolani.
“They will not be delayed. On the contrary: They will be accelerated whenever possible,” Lorenzo Mariani said in his air show debut here as CEO of the Italian aerospace and defense giant.
Mariani said the Michelangelo Dome effort is being broadened to include MBDA, where he previously worked. “MBDA can bring added value and accelerate the development of this kind of architecture,” he said.
Progress also is being made on Leonardo's plan to deploy a LEO constellation of communications and Earth observation satellites, he said. The company has booked launches to deploy the first two layers of the architecture. The first is due to launch in late 2027 or early 2028, with the second to follow in 2029. Leonardo has selected SpaceX for the launches because of the reliability of its rockets and the dearth of launch options.
Leonardo used the Farnborough Airshow to disclose that Indonesia has agreed to a nearly €1 billion ($1 billion) deal for 12 M-346F Block 20 light fighters. Deliveries are set to begin in 2030.
An effort to find a partner for the aerostructures business also is progressing. Leonardo had aimed to finalize the financial and industrial talks by the end of June.
“Due to the disruption that was introduced by the conflict in the Middle East, face-to-face meetings were a little bit more difficult,” Mariani said.
Leonardo has never formally disclosed the partner it is in talks with, though it is widely believed to be linked to Saudi Arabia. Mariani said the partnership should be finalized by year-end. Another legacy partnership, a joint venture between Leonardo and Baykar called LBA Systems, has now reached full operational readiness.
The partnership with Baykar could also serve as a model for work on drones with Ukrainian companies, Mariani said. “There is a lot to do together,” he said, adding that he has not identified specific targets.
The new CEO also said Leonardo plans to compete in the collaborative combat aircraft market, including in the UK, where a new program has emerged. The focus, he suggested, will be on the company's sensor capabilities in Italy and the UK.
Related Content
