From Missiles to Machines: Greece Escalates Fight Against Türkiye with Piaggio Aerospace Sale Protest

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – After fiercely objecting to France‘s potential sale of long-range METEOR air-to-air missiles to Türkiye, Greece has now launched a fresh battle—this time against Italy—vehemently opposing the sale of its iconic aerospace firm, Piaggio Aerospace, to Türkiye’s drone powerhouse, Baykar Technology.

Baykar Technology is Türkiye’s leading drone manufacturer, known for developing high-performance and advanced UAVs such as the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci.

According to Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the Greek government plans to lodge a formal protest with Italy, claiming that the sale of the iconic Italian aerospace firm, Piaggio Aerospace, violates the European Union’s Regulation 2019/452, which came into effect on October 11, 2020.

The regulation mandates that all EU member states notify other member nations when a state-owned company is sold to a foreign investor.

The newspaper also cited Article 7 of the regulation, which states that “any EU member state or the Commission may request information from the selling or acquiring country if a foreign investment is deemed a potential risk to security or public order.”

The Greek government views Baykar Technology’s acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace as a “high-risk” security concern due to the Turkish company’s expertise in armed drones.

Athens erupted in fury over France’s alleged decision to grant Türkiye access to the powerful long-range METEOR air-to-air missiles, arming Ankara’s soon-to-be-acquired Eurofighter Typhoon jets with a formidable new edge.

In a dramatic diplomatic move, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias urgently summoned the French Ambassador to Greece, Laurence Auer, demanding answers and fiercely protesting Paris’ reported approval of Türkiye’s procurement of the Beyond Visual Range (BVR) METEOR missiles.

“I conveyed to the French Ambassador Greece’s strong opposition to this potential sale of METEOR missiles to Türkiye, which is inconsistent with the close strategic relationship that Greece and France have maintained,” Dendias wrote on the social media platform X.

The METEOR BVRAAM, widely regarded as one of the world’s most advanced air-to-air missiles, is said to outperform the U.S.-developed AIM-120 AMRAAM.

It is a radar-guided missile capable of reaching speeds of Mach 4 and engaging aerial targets up to 200 km away.

The issue of arms sales to Türkiye was also raised recently during a meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels, where Mitsotakis sought clarification on whether France intended to proceed with the METEOR missile sale to Türkiye.

This diplomatic friction between Greece and France comes despite their strong defense cooperation.

Under a mutual defense agreement signed in September 2021, both nations pledged military support and assistance should either come under attack from a third country.

The defense pact between Paris and Athens has led to significant arms acquisitions by Greece, including 24 Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter jets and French warships.

Greece is particularly concerned that Türkiye’s acquisition of long-range METEOR missiles for its Eurofighter Typhoon jets could weaken Athens’ current aerial superiority over Ankara, which has been bolstered by Greece’s procurement of Rafale fighter jets from France.

The proposed sale of 40 latest-generation Eurofighter Typhoon jets equipped with METEOR missiles to Türkiye has escalated tensions between Britain, France, and Greece.

Türkiye has reportedly insisted that it will only acquire the Eurofighter Typhoon jets if it is also permitted to procure the METEOR missiles— a condition that now appears to have been accepted.

Türkiye is expected to receive the latest variant of the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Tranche 4.

Meanwhile, in late December last year, Türkiye’s Baykar Technology successfully won the bid to acquire Italy’s aerospace giant, Piaggio Aerospace, which has been in operation for 130 years.

Baykar Technology, renowned for developing the Bayraktar TB2 UCAV, outbid competitors from various countries in a competitive tender for the acquisition of the iconic Italian firm, which was established in 1884.

Piaggio Aerospace is best known in the aviation industry for producing the P.180 Avanti business jet— often dubbed the “Ferrari of the skies”— as well as aircraft engines.

The company also plays a strategic role in Italy’s defense industry ecosystem through its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.

For over 140 years, Piaggio Aerospace has been recognized for its contributions to Italy’s technological infrastructure, cementing its place as a key player in the nation’s aerospace sector.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA