One year after Baykar acquired the Italian aerospace company Piaggio Aerospace, the company exceeded its targets in financing, investment, production, and employment. While maintaining its workforce, the company implemented its new industrial plan and announced its goal of increasing annual P.180 Avanti production capacity to 20–25 aircraft.
Baykar’s Piaggio Aerospace Move Delivered Results in One Year
Significant transformation steps have been taken over the past year at the Italian aerospace company Piaggio Aerospace, whose acquisition process was completed by the Turkish defense and aerospace technology company Baykar on June 30, 2025. According to the company’s statement, Baykar accelerated the restructuring of Piaggio Aerospace by exceeding the commitments it made during the acquisition process in the areas of financing, investment, production, employment, and corporate transformation.
Operating under the name Baykar Piaggio Aerospace SpA since July 1, 2025, the company has restored operational continuity, implemented its new industrial plan, and launched a comprehensive product and brand renewal process.
Baykar Exceeded Its Employment Commitment
Baykar provided financing beyond the planned level to ensure operational continuity, modernize products, and accelerate the company’s transformation.
Having committed to preserving approximately 675 jobs during the acquisition process, the company recruited new employees to replace those who left voluntarily, increasing its workforce to 677 employees as of April 2026.
During this period, Baykar acted not only as an investor but also as an industrial partner, transformation financier, and strategic partner supporting the sustainability of aerospace employment in Italy.
Haluk Bayraktar: “We Kept Our Promise”
Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of Baykar and Chairman of the Board of Piaggio Aerospace, stated that the company had fulfilled the promises it made to employees, Italy, and the aerospace industry during the acquisition process.
Bayraktar said they had exceeded the committed investment level, preserved all employment, and provided the 140-year-old Piaggio Aerospace with a new industrial plan, a new corporate identity, and a long-term growth vision.
Avanti NX Introduced, Production Target for the P.180 Increased
In February 2026, the company introduced its new brand identity, Avanti Next, while also unveiling the Avanti NX, the next-generation version of the twin-turboprop P.180 Avanti.
With the new industrial plan approved in March, the special mission version of the P.180 platform was repositioned under the name Mantide.
In response to growing global demand, Baykar announced that it aims to increase the annual production capacity of the P.180 to between 20 and 25 aircraft by expanding its existing production infrastructure.
EASA Capability to Support Baykar’s Global Goals
In its statement, the company emphasized that Piaggio Aerospace’s European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-approved design, production, and maintenance capabilities constitute an important infrastructure for the future international manufacturing activities of the Baykar Group.
It was also stated that Piaggio Aerospace will continue its independent civil aviation activities as well as its maintenance and repair services.
New Growth Period in Engine and Maintenance Operations
Piaggio Aerospace’s engine division has also continued to grow following the acquisition. While the company signed agreements for new work packages that will begin generating revenue from the end of 2026, it also advanced maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) negotiations across nine different engine programs.
Under its current operations, the company continues to provide engine maintenance support for the Italian Air Force’s MB-339 fleet, the Italian Army’s CH-47 Chinook and A129 Mangusta fleets, while also continuing component production for the F135 engine used in the F-35 fighter aircraft.
After-Sales Service Network Continues to Expand
Piaggio Aerospace continues to provide maintenance support for the P.180 fleet operated by Italian public institutions while expanding its after-sales service network.
Within this scope, the company is nearing the completion of an agreement to establish a new spare parts warehouse in the United States, while the number of specialist personnel at the Pratica di Mare maintenance center near Rome has been increased from 8 to 16.
