Leonardo Company Search A history of success, a future in excellence Share 1864 1948 The industrial roots of Leonardo before 1948 Leonardo is at the leading edge of Italy’s industrial development and has been since 1948, paving the way for its expansion abroad. Yet, Leonardo’s industrial roots date back much further. Many companies merge into the Group over time. In some cases they change their name and specialism, and many have origins dating back to the early 1900s or even the 19th Century. Brochure: “A legacy leading to the future”, a brief journey into Leonardo’s history HELICOPTERS A rich heritage in Italy and the United Kingdom Giovanni Agusta, founder of the company that bears his name, builds his first biplane in 1907. This heralds a long industrial tradition in the fixed-wing sector and then in helicopters. In the United Kingdom, Westland Aircraft begins manufacturing warplanes for the Royal Naval Air Service in 1915 at its historic Yeovil plant. The collaboration between Agusta and Westland dates to 1965. The partnership eventually leads to the AgustaWestland joint venture, which is followed by the creation of Leonardo’s Helicopter Division. Agusta plant, 1938 AIRCRAFT AND AEROSTRUCTURES Pioneers of aviation throughout Italy Leonardo's aeronautical tradition has many elements. Nieuport-Macchi (1913), SIAI Marchetti (1915) and Breda Aeronautica (1919) operate in Northern Italy, alongside the aeronautical activity of FIAT (1916) and Ansaldo (1917). Officine Ferroviarie Meridionali (1904) builds its first aircraft in Southern Italy in 1925. Following different paths and bringing together various industrial businesses, they are united to form Alenia Aermacchi. In turn this becomes Leonardo’s Aircraft and Aerostructures Divisions. Alenia Aermacchi - Nieuport XVII Transport, 1917 DEFENCE AND SECURITY ELECTRONICS 150 years at the cutting edge of technology Expertise from many businesses eventually converges into a single entity. In Italy: Officine Galileo (1864), San Giorgio (1906), Officine Marconi (1906) and Salmoiraghi (1865); in the United Kingdom: Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company (1897), Plessey (1917) and Ferranti (1882). These companies forge their reputations in electronics, ICT, communication systems, electro-optical systems, avionics, radar and space components. Ultimately, their know-how enables the creation of Selex ES which is subsequently transformed into Leonardo’s Electronics and Cyber Security Divisions. Officine Galileo - Laboratory from the early 1900s DEFENCE SYSTEMS Supporting the Armed Forces for more than a century In La Spezia, Vickers-Terni (1905) develops and produces weapons and systems for the Italian Navy and Army. In Milan, Breda (1886) manufactures arms and ammunition. Meanwhile, in Rijeka (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), Torpedo Fabrik von Robert Whitehead (1875) produces torpedoes for Navies both in Europe and worldwide. These pioneering companies lay the foundations for OTO Melara and WASS, which are subsequently merged into Leonardo’s Electronics Division. WHITEHEAD plant About us Investors Sustainability Careers Media & Stories Contacts P.IVA 00881841001 © 2021 Leonardo S.p.A. For the dissemination of Regulated Information Leonardo uses eMarket SDIR run by Spafid Connect SpA established in Milan, Foro Buonaparte n. 10 (www.emarketstorage.com). For the storage and filing of Regulated Information Leonardo uses eMarket STORAGE run by Spafid Connect SpA established in Milan, Foro Buonaparte n. 10. Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Legal Notice Sitemap CERT LinkedIn Twitter Facebook About Cookies On This Site In this site, we use technical cookies, own and third party, and other technologies that collect your browsing data to analyse use, improve your experience and personalize the content and advertising. Click here to learn more about our Cookie Policy. This site does not use marketing/profiling cookies. By clicking on "Accept" or continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of all cookies used. Accept