Leonardo (company)

Leonardo S.p.A., is an Italian multinational company specialising in aerospace, defence and security. Headquartered in Rome, the company has 180 sites worldwide.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> It is the 12th largest defence contractor in the world based on 2020 revenues.<ref name=":1">Top 100 Arms-Producing and Military Service Companies Template:Webarchive SIPRI. Received 18 December 2019.</ref> The company is partially owned by the Italian government, which holds 30.2% of the company's shares and is its largest shareholder.

On 1 January 2016, Leonardo-Finmeccanica became a single industrial company by integrating the activities of its subsidiaries AgustaWestland, Alenia Aermacchi, DRS Technologies, Selex ES, OTO Melara and WASS. The company is organised into five divisions (Helicopters, Aircraft, Aerostructures, Electronics, Cybersecurity). It is also the parent company and corporate centre for the subsidiaries and joint ventures Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space, MBDA and ATR. Leonardo is listed on the Borsa Italiana and is a constituent of the FTSE MIB and Dow Jones Sustainability Indices.

The company changed its name to Leonardo S.p.A. on 1 January 2017, after the Italian inventor Leonardo da Vinci.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="defensenews" />

History

Foundation

Società Finanziaria Meccanica, "Finmeccanica", was established in 1948 as the mechanical engineering subholding of the state-owned Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale (IRI). Finmeccanica has held for years some historic Italian enterprises, as Alfa Romeo (automobiles), Aeritalia (aerospace) and Ansaldo (engineering).<ref name=":0" />

From the 1960s to the 1980s Italy's defence and aerospace industry was split into state-holding entities: Template:Ill owned the helicopters manufacturer Agusta, the defence company Oto Melara and the electronic enterprise Officine Galileo. STET (another IRI subsidiary) held Selenia, Elsag and SGS Thomson, all electronic enterprises with specializations in security and defense. In 1989, an internal IRI reorganization process brought STET electronic enterprises to Finmeccanica, and the Aeritalia-Selenia merger constituted its aerospace subsidiary Alenia.<ref name=":1" />

1990s

In 1992, EFIM was wound up because of its troubled financial situation; and Agusta, Oto Melara, Officine Galileo and Breda passed to Finmeccanica, which became one of the main Italian industrial groups. Finmeccanica, which was previously fully state owned by IRI, became partly privatized in 1993, when it was listed in the Milan Borsa Italiana stock exchange.

In 1992, Finmeccanica's Agusta became a 32% partner in NHIndustries, the prime contractor for the NH90 helicopter, along with Eurocopter (62.5%) and Fokker (5.5%).

2000s

In July 2000 Finmeccanica and the British GKN agreed to merge their respective helicopter subsidiaries (Agusta and GKN-Westland Helicopters) to form AgustaWestland. In December 2001, the missile business of Alenia Marconi Systems (AMS), a joint Finmeccanica/BAE Systems company, was merged with other European missile manufacturers to form MBDA, which became the world's second largest missile manufacturer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2003 Finmeccanica and BAE Systems announced their intention to set up three joint venture companies, to be collectively known as Eurosystems. These companies would have pooled the avionics, C4ISTAR and communications businesses of the two companies.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In March 2007, BAE Systems sold its 25% share to Finmeccanica for €400 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In January 2013 the company merged with Finmeccanica's other defence electronics companies, SELEX Elsag and SELEX Sistemi Integrati, to become Selex ES. In May 2008 Finmeccanica announced its intention to purchase the U.S. defense contractor DRS Technologies for nearly $5.2 billion. In October 2008 the sale of DRS Technologies was finalized.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2010s

During 2011–2013, Finmeccanica emails were published by WikiLeaks and Finmeccanica was subject to judicial inquiries on several fronts and management changes.

According to Finmeccanica emails published in the Syria Files release by WikiLeaks on 5 July 2012,<ref name="WL_Finmeccanica5Jul2012" /> Finmeccanica increased its sale of mobile communications equipment to Syrian authorities during 2011, delivering 500 of these to the Damascus suburb Muadamia in May 2011,<ref name="Delivery500Radios" /><ref name="Telegraph_Finmeccanica5Jul2012" /> after the Syrian uprising had started, and sending engineers to Damascus in February 2012 to provide training in using the communications equipment in helicopter terminals,<ref name="SELEXreplyFeb2012" /> while the uprising continued.<ref name="ThReut_Finmeccanica5Jul2012" /> Finmeccanica stated that the equipment sales were legal, they occurred "before the outbreak of conflict inside Syria", and the equipment "was designed for use by emergency responders" for civilian use only.<ref name="ThReut_Finmeccanica5Jul2012" />

On 12 February 2013, the chief executive, Giuseppe Orsi, was arrested on corruption charges. Prosecutors alleged that he paid bribes to ensure the sale of 12 helicopters to the Indian government, when he was head of the group's AgustaWestland unit.<ref>Finmeccanica's Giuseppe Orsi held on corruption charges Template:Webarchive BBC</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In July 2013, the Letta government appointed former police chief Giovanni De Gennaro as Chairman of Finmeccanica. In December 2013 Finmeccanica sold 39.55% of its share capital in Ansaldo Energia to Fondo Strategico Italiano.

In the first half of 2014, Finmeccanica's new chief executive officer and General Manager Mauro Moretti started a significant process of change for the Group, both in terms of strategic choices and organizational structure. The goal was to create a more cohesive and efficient group in which all processes (research, marketing and sales, engineering, procurement, strategies and governance) are centralized and integrated and can interact each other.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This encompasses the 100% owned companies of the core aerospace and defence business (AgustaWestland, Alenia Aermacchi, Oto Melara, Selex ES and WASS) being transformed into seven new Finmeccanica divisions. The current holding company will then become an operating company based on seven major business areas, maintaining its parent company and corporate centre function for the Group companies excluded from the model (DRS Technologies, Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space, MBDA and ATR).

At the end of 2014, Finmeccanica transferred its stake in BredaMenarinibus to the newco Industria Italiana Autobus (20% Finmeccanica and 80% King Long), thereby taking a further step in the Group's portfolio rationalization process.

In 2015, Hitachi signed a binding agreement with Finmeccanica for Hitachi's acquisition of the AnsaldoBreda business, excluding some revamping activities and residual contracts, and of the entire Finmeccanica stake in the share capital of Ansaldo STS, approximately 40% of the total capital.

FATA, another subsidiary of the Finmeccanica Group since 2004 that was not part of the core business, was sold in 2015 to the Gruppo Danieli, dealing in the production of steel plantsTemplate:Citation needed.

On 1 January 2016, Finmeccanica became a single integrated industrial entity, that absorbed the activities of AgustaWestland, Alenia Aermacchi, Selex ES, OTO Melara and WASS.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

From Finmeccanica to Leonardo

Co-General Manager Lorenzo Mariani with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, 16 February 2024

A company rebranding operation led by Mauro Moretti began in March 2016, with a proposal to change the company name. From 1 January 2017 Finmeccanica officially became Leonardo, a name inspired by the Italian savant Leonardo da Vinci.<ref name="defensenews">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March 2017 the Italian Treasury proposed that the veteran banker Alessandro Profumo replace Mauro Moretti as CEO of Leonardo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2017 the Board appointed Alessandro Profumo to the role.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2020s

On 10 May 2023 the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Roberto Cingolani to the position of chief executive officer and General Manager, Mr. Stefano Pontecorvo to the role of chairman, Mr. Lorenzo Mariani to the role of Co-General Manager.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Turkish defense firm Baykar and Leonardo have decided to cooperate in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles.<ref name="leonardobaykar1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Organization

Aeronautics

M-346

Leonardo designs, develops, produces, maintains and upgrades commercial, military and military training aircraft, as well as producing aerostructures. The company is part of a network of joint ventures and product partnerships, including such programs as the Global Combat Air Programme (with BAE Systems and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) to build a 6th generation fighter, Eurofighter (with BAE Systems and Airbus Group) to build the supersonic multi-role Typhoon, and the ATR (with Airbus Group) to build the family of turboprop regional aircraft of the same name.

Helicopters

AW139

Leonardo is active in the helicopter market, managing: development to production, pilot training and after sales support. Leonardo produces a range of helicopters for the commercial and defence markets, including all the main weight categories, from 1.8-tonne single-engined to 16-tonne three-engined helicopters.

The company launched its VIP helicopters and travel services under a related new name "Agusta" and unveiled the heliport called "Casa Agusta" at a formal ceremony at the Expo 2020 in Dubai.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Leonardo is developing a helicopter-like autonomous large drone for the Royal Navy named Proteus.<ref name=telegraph-20250107>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=telegraph-20250323>Template:Cite news</ref>

Defence Electronics & Security

OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid

Leonardo develops and integrates systems for the air and sea traffic management and the control and protection of land and sea borders; it also develops secure communications networks for the management of infrastructure and systems. The services include the design and management of IT infrastructure and data processing for intelligence and cyber security. Leonardo is active in the design, development and production of naval artillery, armoured vehicles and underwater systems. In the Defence Electronics & Security sector, Leonardo operates through its US subsidiary DRS Technologies and the joint venture MBDA (37.5% BAE Systems, 37.5% Airbus Group and 25% Leonardo) that produces missiles and missile systems.

Space

Raffaello MPLM

In the space sector, Leonardo is active mainly through joint ventures Telespazio (Leonardo 67% - Thales 33%) and Thales Alenia Space (Leonardo 33% - Thales 67%). Telespazio offers a wide range of skills and services from design and development of space systems, launch services management and in-orbit satellites to Earth observation services, integrated communications and satellite navigation and localisation. Thales Alenia Space is engaged in the design, integration, testing and implementation of space systems, for navigation, telecommunications, meteorology, environmental control, defence, scientific missions and Earth observation.

Areas of business

Leonardo is present worldwide in about 20 countries (42% in Italy and 58% abroad). Commercially, there are about 150 countries in the world that use products, systems and services supplied by Leonardo.

Its production activities and its main industrial and commercial bases are located in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the United States. Leonardo has gained a significant presence in France and Germany, and is a partner for various international industrial collaborations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The company is an ITER supplier.Template:Citation needed

In December 2021, Leonardo Electronics announced it would be building a semiconductor device fabrication facility in Oro Valley, Arizona with construction beginning in the first half of 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Leonardo's ongoing supply of equipment for Israel's military has attracted controversy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June 2025, Leonardo was identified in a UN expert's report on corporations aiding Israel that "may be embedded in an economy of genocide".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Subsidiaries

• 100% Leonardo Global Solutions
• 100% Leonardo International
• 100% Leonardo Logistics
• 100% Leonardo UK
• 72.3% Leonardo DRS
• 100% KOPTER Group
• 100% PZL-Świdnik

AgustaWestland AW189 helicopter of the UK Coast Guard arrives at the 2018 RIAT, England

Joint ventures

• 67% Telespazio SpA
• 60% Larimart SpA
• 50% ATR
• 50% Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 49% Orizzonte Sistemi Navali
• 33% Thales Alenia Space SAS
• 32% NHIndustries<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 31.33% ELT Group
• 30% GEM Elettronica<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 29.63% Avio SpA
• 25% MBDA
• 22.8% Hensoldt
• 21% Eurofighter GmbH<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Future subsidiaries

Acquisition of IDV (Iveco Defence Vehicles) in 2025, for a value of €1.7 billion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The products of IDV include:

• Heavy vehicles:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Ariete C2 (in collaboration with Leonardo)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • VBM Freccia<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Centauro 2, an 8×8 fire support vehicle equipped with a Hitfact Mk2 turret with a 105 or 120 mm canon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • SuperAV Land, an 8×8 multi-role armoured vehicle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Amphibious vehicles:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • SuperAV, an 8×8 multi-role amphibious armoured vehicle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Guarani, a 6×6 multi-role amphibious armoured vehicle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Medium - light vehicles<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • MTV (multirole tactical vehicle), a 6×6 multi-role armoured vehicle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Template:Ill, a 4×4 multi-role armoured vehicle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Template:Ill, based on the Iveco Daily 4×4.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Defence trucks:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Modular military range, a family of tactical trucks, armoured and unarmoured, available in 4×4, 6×6, 8×8 and 10×10 configurations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • EuroCargo, a civilian vehicle family transformed by IDV.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Daily (homeland security / police).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• UGV (uncrewed ground vehicles)
  • Viking<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Shareholder structure

As of March 2025, Leonardo's largest shareholder was the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finances with 30.20%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Key budget items (2007–2022)

	In million of €
	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2013*	2014	2014**	2015	2016<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2017<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2018<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2019	2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2021<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2022<ref>Leonardo Results and Report https://www.leonardo.com/en/investors/results-and-reports Template:Webarchive</ref>
New Orders	17,916	17,575	21,099	22,453	17,434	15,869	17,571	15,059	15,619	12,667	12,371	19,951	11,595	15,124	14,105	13,754	14,307	17,266
Order backlog	39,304	42,937	45,143	48,668	46,005	44,908	42,697	36,831	38,234	29,383	28,793	34,798	33,578	36,118	36,513	35,516	35,534	37,506
Revenues	13,429	16,504	18,176	18,695	17,318	16,504	16,033	13,690	14,663	12,764	12,995	12,002	11,527	12,240	13,784	13,410	14,135	14,713
Ebita	7.8%	8.7%	8.7%	8.5%	-216	1,006	949	878	1,080	980	1,208	1,252	1,066	1,120	1,251	938	1,123	1,218
Net result before extraordinary transactions	nd	nd	nd	nd	nd	nd	74	(649)	70	15	253	545	274	421	722	241	587	697
Net Result	521	621	718	557	-2.306	-792	74	74	20	20	527	507	274	510	822	243	587	932
Group Net Debt	1,158	3,383	3,070	3,133	3,443	3,382	3,316	3,902	3,962	3,962	3,278	2,845	2,579	2,351	2,847	3,318	3,122	3,016
FOCF	375	469	563	443	-358	91	(307)	(220)	(137)	65	307	706	537	336	241	40	209	539
Employees	60,748	73,398	73,056	75,197	70,474	67,408	63,835	56,282	54,380	54,380	47,156	45,631	45,134	46,462	49,530	49,882	50,413	51,392

• * Restated figures due to the adoption of IFRS 11, which resulted in the dissolution of the joint ventures' group.
• **Restated figures as a result of the reclassification of the transport sector as a discontinued operation.

Sources:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Leonardo Budget" />

Criticisms

In 2018, the British NGO Corruption Watch published a report entitled Anglo Italian Job, which analysed million-pound contracts, lobbyists and prominent politicians, bribes, consultancy contracts and private intercessions by the former Finmeccanica group.<ref name="espresso.it">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Report Anglo Italian Job</ref>

The Government Pension Fund of Norway, which owned 1.3% of listed shares worldwide in 2018, excluded Leonardo from its investment portfolio because it did not meet its ethical standards.<ref name="espresso.it" />

See also

• Arms industry
• Template:C
• Template:C
• International Flight Training School
• Leonardo Sistemi di Difesa

External links

• Template:Official website