(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 6. Leonardo, the
Italian aerospace and defense company, views Central Asia as a
vital region for expanding its innovative solutions in aerospace,
defense, and security, said Angelo Cecchini, the company's Vice
President of International Business Development for North East
Asia, Oceania, Central Asia, and the India region, in an exclusive
interview with Trend .
"The commercial footprint of Leonardo in Central Asia is rich in
terms of technologies provided and sectors of application,
representing a solid foundation for the company's future growth in
the region," he noted.
Leonardo's offerings in Central Asia already span a wide range
of advanced technologies, including helicopters, secure
communications, naval defense solutions, satellite services for
both civil and military applications, combat and training aircraft,
and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). According to the VP, these
solutions demonstrate Leonardo's commitment to addressing the
region's evolving needs.
"In response to the growing necessities in the region,
leveraging its advanced technologies in aerospace, defense, and
security, Leonardo is willing to offer its expertise for the
modernization of armed forces," Cecchini emphasized. This
modernization encompasses rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, radar
systems, UAVs, and border security solutions.
The VP highlighted the importance of Leonardo's border security
solutions, describing them as "designed for integration into a
net-centric architecture for full situational awareness and control
across air, land, and maritime domains".
In addition to hardware, Leonardo prioritizes cybersecurity,
offering cutting-edge solutions to protect governments and critical
infrastructures from increasingly sophisticated threats. Cecchini
pointed out that, in today's world, cybersecurity is indispensable:
"Our solutions provide protection and resilience against
cyberattacks, ensuring the security of sensitive data and
operations".
Leonardo also invests heavily in training programs tailored for
defense and cybersecurity professionals. "Specialized defense and
cyber training programs are of great importance," Cecchini
remarked. "These programs enable customers and end-users to
maximize the effectiveness of new equipment and adopt best
practices in operational scenarios".
Central Asia's strategic role as a geographical bridge between
Asia and Europe, its abundant energy resources, and its influence
on regional stability for international security make it a focal
point for Leonardo's efforts.
Rather than pursuing short-term business opportunities through a
standard client-supplier business model, Cecchini explained that
Leonardo aims to establish long-lasting relations with partner
countries, focusing on providing tailored solutions that are
specifically designed to meet the particular necessities of each
country, ensuring the necessary levels of independency in system
utilization while fully respecting sovereignty requirements in the
management of data and information.
The strength of Leonardo lies not only in the high technological
standards of its portfolio, but also in its ability to offer
modular and scalable solutions that can be progressively built and
fully integrated to ensure the highest operational effectiveness,
which allows for long-term solutions that evolve with the changing
needs of the region. This, Cecchini said, is a key factor in
positioning Leonardo as a trusted partner in enhancing the region's
defense and security infrastructure, while also promoting long-term
growth and stability.
Leonardo's contributions are focused on three main areas:
Security : Providing solutions to protect
against terroristic attacks, smuggling, and cyber threats, which
are increasingly becoming critical issues in the region.
Infrastructures : Enabling the secure
development of transport and communication networks, as well as the
management of natural resources, which are crucial for the
sustainable growth of Central Asia.
Disaster Relief : Offering specific solutions
for natural disaster prevention and management, to ensure the
region can effectively respond to and mitigate the effects of
natural calamities.
"Through its cutting-edge technologies, Leonardo is committed to
continuing its contribution to support the Central Asian countries
to respond to their growing needs, helping to strengthen their
security infrastructure and create an environment of long-term
peace and stability," he added.
Cecchini underscored Leonardo's readiness to support the Middle
Corridor's goal of bridging Europe and Asia with secure, efficient,
and sustainable connectivity infrastructure.
"The region's pivotal role in bridging Europe and Asia is
confirmed and strengthened through the Middle Corridor initiative,"
said Cecchini. "This initiative presents several opportunities for
Leonardo to contribute to the creation of a secure, efficient, and
sustainable connectivity infrastructure, reinforcing its position
as a key partner for regional development".
Moreover, Leonardo aims to leverage its advanced capabilities in
border control and critical infrastructure protection to ensure
seamless and secure trade along the Middle Corridor. Cecchini
highlighted the company's leading-edge expertise in secure
communications as a cornerstone of its potential contributions,
including satellite-based solutions, terrestrial communication
systems, and robust cybersecurity measures.
"Our solutions ensure the reliability and security of data
transmission while enabling the monitoring and management of
transports-be it railways, highways, or ports-essential for
logistics and trade," he emphasized.
Beyond secure communications, Leonardo is poised to enhance
logistics operations with its Earth-observation services and
advanced digital tools. Cecchini noted that Earth-observation
technologies can enable real-time cargo tracking and predictive
analytics, providing valuable insights for logistics
optimization.
"Leonardo's digitalization and AI-based solutions, powered by
our supercomputer 'Da Vinci' can improve the efficiency of regional
logistics networks," Cecchini said. These capabilities, he
explained, enhance supply chain visibility, optimize freight
movement, and improve multimodal transport hubs, fostering greater
connectivity across the region.
Further speaking, Angelo Cecchini emphasized Leonardo's
commitment to forging lasting partnerships in the region rather
than pursuing short-term opportunities. "Central Asia is widely
recognized for its strategic role as a bridge between Asia and
Europe, its energy resources, and its importance for regional and
international security".
Leonardo is focused on providing modular and scalable solutions
tailored to meet the region's needs in security, infrastructure,
and disaster relief. The company's offerings include technologies
for protecting against terrorism and cyber threats, enabling secure
transport and resource management, and supporting natural disaster
prevention and response.
During COP29 in Baku, Leonardo highlighted its contribution to
climate adaptation and decarbonization efforts, showcasing
space-based technologies for resource management, environmental
monitoring, and disaster resilience. "Our expertise supports
sustainable energy and technologies, including clean energy
deployment and risk mitigation," the VP noted.
Leonardo is also exploring alternative propulsion systems, such
as hybrid-electric and hydrogen-based technologies, to support
Central Asia's modernization of aviation in a sustainable way.
"We aim to promote long-term growth and stability by offering
tailored solutions and respecting the sovereignty of our partners,"
Cecchini concluded, positioning Leonardo as a trusted ally in the
region's future development.
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