Baykar targets major P.180 production ramp-up and UAV manufacturing at Piaggio Aerospace
January 14, 2026
Baykar is laying out an ambitious expansion plan for Piaggio Aerospace that would multiply P.180 Avanti production, ramp up engine manufacturing, grow its US footprint and bring UAV assembly to Italy.
The strategy points to a far deeper integration between the Turkish drone specialist and the Italian airframer, repositioning Piaggio as both a revived civil aircraft manufacturer and a future node in Baykar’s European unmanned aviation ambitions.
Baykar plans major increase in Piaggio P.180 production
Piaggio Aerospace is one of the world’s oldest aircraft manufacturers. It was first established in 1884 (as Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A.) and has been making aeroplanes since 1915.
These days, Piaggio Aerospace is owned by the Turkish defence firm, Bakyar, a world leader in military drone development.
According to reporting by Turkiye Today, Baykar is planning to increase Piaggio’s P.180 production capacity by 5-6 fold. It plans to boost capacity from the five per year it is currently, to 25 to 30 per year. It is also increasing its presence in the US, with the US market being its top priority.
Baykar is also planning to introduce a new and improved version of the aircraft, which it calls “Avanti Next”. The Avanti Next comes with system updates and modernised avionics, including Garmin avionics.
First pilots earned their wings on the new Piaggio P.180 EVO+ at @ItalianAirForce Air Transport Training School in Pratica di Mare #SATA. A major step for advanced training and tech innovation in the Italian Air Force. Learn more: https://t.co/92AqZ9L1w4 @BaykarTech #P180 pic.twitter.com/ChHVSPGUNl
— Piaggio Aerospace (@PiaggioA) October 24, 2025
Other upgrades include renovated interiors and modernised Italian designs and aesthetics. A digital cabin pressurisation system and new environmental control systems have already been developed, and the company is working on increasing maintenance intervals and inspection periods.
The P.180 is the world’s fastest turboprop aircraft and is an unmissable, unique design. The production rate is currently four to five aircraft annually. Piaggio has produced over 250 P.180 aircraft to date. About 100 of these are in the US and another 100 in Europe.
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Baykar signals deeper integration with Piaggio Aerospace
Haluk Bayraktar is the chairman of the board of Piaggio Aerospace and general manager of Baykar. Yesterday, he posted “A new era for Piaggio Aerospace marks a milestone in the strong Türkiye-Italy partnership.”
A new era for Piaggio Aerospace marks a milestone in the strong Türkiye-Italy partnership. With our shared vision in aviation and defence, we will continue taking innovative steps in technology and production, reinforce closer cooperation and advance civilian projects. https://t.co/s3QQDQcmFF
— Haluk Bayraktar (@haluk) January 12, 2026
Bayraktar added, “With our shared vision in aviation and defence, we will continue taking innovative steps in technology and production, reinforce closer cooperation and advance civilian projects.”
He noted that Piaggio operates two facilities. One is for manufacturing the P.180 bespoke light transport aircraft, and the other is for producing engine parts and conducting engine maintenance. Engine production is also to be significantly ramped up.
Bayraktar said he sees a future tapping into Piaggio’s brand name, talents, and capabilities, and combining that with Bakyar’s UAV expertise.
Baykar plans UAV manufacturing at Piaggio’s facilities
As to be expected with Baykar, Bayraktar spoke of the two companies working on new initiatives to combine Piaggio’s civil aviation expertise with Baykar’s engineering staff and UAV production. This includes UAV production at Piaggio facilities.
Precision starts on the ground, excellence continues in the air ✈️ pic.twitter.com/LvMoeAi9Ap
— Piaggio Aerospace (@PiaggioA) December 14, 2025
Bayraktar stated, “We have the capacity to bring UAV manufacturing to Piaggio facilities. Within our ongoing joint venture with Leonardo, we plan to localise UAV manufacturing in Italy to serve Europe’s needs.”
It is unclear what types of UAVs Bayraktar is referring to (possibly its Turkish drones), although it’s worth noting a drone variant of the P.180 is in the works.
Before its acquisition by Baykar, Piaggio Aerospace worked to develop a militarised drone version of the Piaggio P.180 called the P.1HH HammerHead. This was almost cancelled, but was revitalised by the Baykar takeover in 2025. With a top speed of 395 knots, it would be one of the fastest drones in the world and would have an endurance of around 16 hours.
📍 Savona: final ceremony today for Fabbriche Aperte® 2025! Welcoming 1000+ students into the world of industry and STEM careers. A shared look at tomorrow! #Openfactories #FabbricheAperte2025 #STEM @BaykarTech @UI_SV pic.twitter.com/723RwkMZxP
— Piaggio Aerospace (@PiaggioA) October 7, 2025
The HammerHead is designed for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and maritime patrol and signal intelligence (SIGINT) missions.
Featured Image: Piaggio Aerospace
