Leonardo S.p.A., formerly known as Leonardo-Finmeccanica and originally founded as Finmeccanica, is a global company specialising in advanced technologies, information security, aerospace, defence, and space industries. The company operates in 180 locations worldwide and is headquartered in Rome, Italy. Its range of products includes aeronautics, aircraft, helicopters, electronics, defence systems, remote controlled weapon stations, turrets, autocannons, rotary cannons, naval artillery, missiles, torpedoes, unmanned ground vehicles, and unmanned underwater vehicles.
Leonardo S.p.A. is partially owned by the Italian government, which holds 30.2% of the company’s shares and is its largest shareholder. It is the eighth largest defence contractor in the world according to 2018 revenues. The company was formed on 1 January 2016 by integrating the activities of subsidiaries AgustaWestland, Alenia Aermacchi, DRS Technologies, Selex ES, Oto Melara, and WASS.
Leonardo S.p.A is divided into five divisions: Helicopters, Aircraft, Aerostructures, Electronics, and Cybersecurity. It is also the parent company for the subsidiaries and joint ventures Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space, MBDA, and ATR. The company is listed on the Borsa Italiana and is a constituent of the FTSE MIB and Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. It changed its name to Leonardo S.p.A. on 1 January 2017 in honor of Leonardo da Vinci, the Italian inventor.