Europe boosts defence with Leonardo’s Michelangelo Dome
Rising defence budgets and investor interest are driving Europe’s push for integrated military technologies.
Italian defence company Leonardo has revealed plans for the ‘Michelangelo Dome’, an AI-powered shield designed to protect cities and critical infrastructure from missile attacks and drone swarms. The system will integrate multiple defence platforms and is expected to be fully operational by the end of the decade.
The project follows a surge in European defence spending amid geopolitical tensions and uncertainty over US support.
Leonardo’s CEO, Roberto Cingolani, highlighted the system’s open architecture, allowing compatibility with other nations’ defence networks and emphasising the need for innovation and international cooperation.
European defence companies are increasingly investing in integrated command systems rather than standalone hardware.
Private investors are also backing startups developing autonomous and AI-driven defence technologies, creating competition for traditional primes such as Leonardo, BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, and Thales.
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