Italy’s Leonardo opens Kyiv subsidiary
© Leonardo S.p.A. and subsidiaries
Italian defense contractor Leonardo
has launched a Kyiv-based subsidiary, Leonardo Ukraine, to focus on research
and engineering for military technologies, Euractiv reported
on Aug. 20.
Leonardo Ukraine was registered in Ukraine’s state register on May 20 and was first disclosed in Leonardo’s half-year financial report released in late July. The company's statutory capital is UAH5.13 million ($117,000). Leonardo is the sole owner.
“We have completed the legal process needed to start operations; the new company will be used for activities in this area,” a Leonardo communications officer told Euractiv.
Leonardo Ukraine will concentrate on scientific and engineering research and development in communications and navigation systems, software and IT services, and electronic and optical technologies.
The move brings Leonardo closer to Ukraine’s rapidly expanding defense-industrial sector, including increased production of drones and missiles since the war began. During her most recent visit to Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a partnership aimed at boosting drone production, saying Ukraine could receive up to EUR10 billion in additional financing “from budget resources that are still available under SAFE [EU’s rearmament fund]” for production in Ukraine.
Last year, then-CEO Roberto Cingolani said the company planned to test Michelangelo Dome, an integrated multidomain air-defense system, in Ukraine. A month later, the Italian government chose not to renew Cingolani’s mandate as Leonardo CEO, a decision media reports linked in part to disagreements over management of the Michelangelo Dome project.
Leonardo manufactures military aircraft and helicopters,
radars and air-defense systems, military electronics, unmanned systems,
artillery, and naval weapons. It also participates in missile production
through the MBDA consortium and has space and cybersecurity divisions.
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