Leonardo is set to soon announce the acquisition of a European cybersecurity company, further strengthening a business line considered increasingly crucial for new combat systems.
This was revealed to Reuters by Stefano Pontecorvo, chairman of the aerospace and defense group.
"Cyber is becoming an essential component of the multidomain environment, which is nothing more than connecting everything with everything else. That connection must be secure; you have to be certain the enemy cannot use your segment," he said.
Pontecorvo did not disclose the name of the company nor provide more specific timing for the deal.
In October, Leonardo CEO Cingolani stated that the group was evaluating dozens of domestic and foreign companies for potential acquisitions, cautioning that no single transaction would cost more than 15% of the cybersecurity division's revenue.
He added that the group expects double-digit percentage growth in the cybersecurity sector over the coming years.
Speaking at the Paris Air Show, the world's largest aerospace event, Pontecorvo also noted the possibility of cooperation among companies in the sector, given that cyber threats "are becoming increasingly complex, requiring multiple solutions and, in these areas, there are specific specializations."
(Translated by Laura Contemori, editing by Gianluca Semeraro)
