Italy’s largest arms maker had no plans for a Ukraine factory—a year later, it has a Kyiv subsidiary
The Kyiv-based R&D unit will research communications, navigation, and electronic and optical technologies for Ukraine's defense sector.
Italian defense company Leonardo has recently established a research subsidiary in Kyiv, marking its first presence in Ukraine's defense ecosystem, according to Euractiv. This move contradicts Leonardo's previous public stance against opening operations in Ukraine. As Ukraine's defense manufacturing base has become a valuable asset, European defense firms are increasingly investing in the country.
The new subsidiary, Leonardo Ukraine, was registered in Ukraine's business register on May 20 but only disclosed the step in the company's H1 2026 financial report at the end of July. With a share capital of approximately $125,000, the subsidiary is wholly owned by Leonardo International. A Leonardo spokesperson revealed that the company has completed the legal process to commence operations.
The subsidiary's focus will be on R&D for communications and navigation systems, software, IT services, and electronic and optical technologies. This development places Leonardo closer to Ukraine's rapidly expanding drone and missile industry. Just over a year ago, then-CEO Roberto Cingolani had stated that Leonardo had no plans to open a factory in Ukraine, although he agreed to test the company's Michelangelo Dome air defense system there.
Lorenzo Mariani, who succeeded Cingolani as CEO in May, sees the subsidiary as a legal presence inside Ukraine's defense innovation ecosystem, situated near the drone and electronic warfare sectors Leonardo aims to target.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
