From the Lombardy Aerospace Cluster to Leonardo: all the data on the 6.3 billion business that drives exports and challenges the giants of the global Space Economy.
Supremacy on the geopolitical chessboard is increasingly being played out beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. In recent years, the aerospace industry has become a central strategic asset in the economy, especially in those countries that aspire to have a leading role in the global scenario. This sector plays a fundamental role in the generation of new technologies, significantly contributing to innovation and growth well beyond sectoral boundaries both through production diversification mechanisms and through knowledge flows directed to other activities.
Italy, with over 50 thousand employees and a turnover exceeding 18 billion euros, is in third place in the European Union in terms of number of companies (around 320), stands out in the design, production of aircraft, engines and components, with key players such as Leonardo, Avio Aero And Thales Alenia Space. An excellence that has its heart in Lombardyone of the main aerospace hubs in Europe, with over 200 companies, 21,800 employees and a turnover of approximately 6.3 billion euros. The Lombardy Aerospace Clusteran association founded in 2009 on the initiative of 8 companies in the sector and Confindustria Varese, today also has 4 universities and 2 research centres.
Lombard aerospace and the acceleration of exports on the global stage
The district covers the entire supply chain, from helicopters to satellites, and generates around a quarter of Italian aerospace exports (worth around 8 billion in 2025) equal to 2.9 billion euros (50% more than in 2024). United States (516 million), United Kingdom (305.5), Poland (275.6), Saudi Arabia (154.1) and Norway (139.7) are the main markets.
Varese is the queen province with 2.2 billion in exports, 75% of the regional total. The Milanese follows: 374.5 million, with 115% more than in 2024 (174 million). Third in absolute terms is Bergamo with just under 200 million: +77% in the last 12 months (112 million at the end of 2024).
Looking further, it emerges that the top two provinces for growth were Monza and Como. Brianza went from 17 to 63 million, with a record rebound in exports of 256.9%. A record slightly higher than Lazio, which with a jump from 6 to almost 22 million closes 2025 with a similar increase: +237%.
From the historic Varese workshops to the technological platforms of Artemis
One of the oldest aeronautical traditions in the country developed precisely in the Varese area. In fact, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the first Italian aeronautical workshops such as Aermacchi and SIAI-Marchetti were founded in these areas. This industrial legacy has remained over time and even today many companies in the cluster work on electronic components, materials and satellite systems, often as suppliers of large international groups. The structure of the district is largely made up of small and medium-sized groups, around 80% of the entities in the regional sector, together with large players such as Leonardo and Thales.
The supply chain is organized around two main industrial platforms: rotary wing and fixed wing. The first concerns the development and production of helicopters and related subsystems, while the second includes aircraft used in the civil, military and training sectors. Alongside these activities, a network specializing in components and systems operates, which includes structural parts, electronic components, avionics, precision mechanical machining and technical and engineering services. Some data are enough to understand the strategic role of this area: 126 helicopters out of the 182 delivered worldwide were born in Vergiate. Varesini are also the 12 aircraft destined for Austria. In Nerviano, in the Milan area, near the Leonardo Space Divisionthe photovoltaic panels of the Orion capsule were created for the recently concluded Artemis II mission.
Milan and its hinterland are a hub for the development of scientific satellites and Earth observation. Among the leading acronyms, OHB Italy led the creation of the Prisma satellite, while D-Orbit is a leader in space logistics with its ION Satellite Carrier. The Lombardy cluster has a hybrid structure that involves institutional actors (Lombardy Region, Confindustria, Polytechnic of Milan) and large private hubs.
This configuration allows effective coordination between research and industry. Furthermore, Lombardy stands out for the presence of large system integrators such as Leonardowhich has important production sites for avionics and space robotics in the region. These aspects allow the Lombardy supply chain to cover the entire production cycle, from components to complete systems. Furthermore, the Region is active in the European Horizon and GovSatCom programmes.
The new lunar frontiers and the need for national governance
«Lombardy aerospace is crossing all borders» he states Paolo Cerabolinipresident of Lombardy Aerospace Cluster for the three-year period 2025-2027. He then explains that helicopters and planes “represent our strong point” and recalls that “we are in the competition for trainer aircraft for the US Navy”. As for recent space missions, he underlines that “the service module that allowed the astronauts to live in the capsule also has our signature”. The “house” on the Moon will have modules built in Turin, but in the on-board electronics there will also be the contribution of Lombardy players. «Let’s not forget about the cargo modules. Those made to reach the Moon must go beyond Earth orbit, therefore have ad hoc shielding to resist radiation. Our companies will be protagonists in realizing all this.”
In addition to Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto also stand out for their key role in the development of the Italian space economy. The Piedmont Aerospace District (DAP) has over 90 groups and more than 35 thousand employees, and generates a turnover of more than 8 billion euros. Here we find global players such as Thales Alenia Space Italy and ALTEC, but also innovative SMEs such as Argotecspecialized in microsatellites (see box on page 44). The initiative of the City of Aerospace of Turin is an integrated technological hub that hosts research laboratories and incubators for startups.
The ESA Business Incubation Center (BIC) Turin has been active since 2021, supporting the new realities of the space economy with financing and technical assistance. Piedmont is at the center of strategic European programs, such as the construction of the HALO module for the Lunar Gateway and participation in the IRIS² constellation. In Veneto, however, the Regional Innovative Network AIR, Aerospace Innovation and Research, with the Space and Cosmonautic Consortium (Co.Si. Mo) bring together over 60 companies and research centres. In 2023, the Veneto aerospace sector generated a turnover of 1.4 billion euros (+27% compared to the previous year) and exports of 65%. Here niche specializations reign supreme. Stellar Workshop is a leader in the design of optical systems for satellites and space telescopes, while Qascom deals with cybersecurity and satellite navigation.
The presence of so many entities of this caliber would, however, require central governance to coordinate local initiatives in order to create a truly internationally competitive national supply chain. Teaming up would make it easier to get support from financial institutions, especially private institutional investors. It is a bit of a vulnerability in the Italian industrial system with many scattered champions, but without a direction capable of optimizing synergies.
