Leonardo has secured a contract to develop and deliver four advanced radar systems for Italy’s Michelangelo Dome air and missile defense program, significantly enhancing the country’s ability to detect, track, and counter long-range ballistic missile threats. The program represents a key element of Italy’s national effort to strengthen integrated air and missile defense capabilities.
The agreement, signed with Italy’s TELEDIFE defense procurement body, covers the supply of both Ground-Based Radar (GBR) and Mobile Long-Range Radar (MLRR) units. These systems are based on fully digital active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars using gallium nitride (GaN) technology, providing extended detection ranges, improved power efficiency, and high-precision real-time tracking of aerial and ballistic targets at distances of up to 3,000 kilometers.
According to Leonardo, the radars are designed to seamlessly share high-fidelity targeting data with Fire Control Radars and other interceptors, enabling a modular, multi-domain defense architecture. This approach allows Italy to integrate sensors, shooters, and command-and-control systems across air, land, and potentially space domains, improving response time and decision-making accuracy.
The Michelangelo Dome system, unveiled in late November 2025, employs advanced sensors and predictive algorithms to identify suspicious activity at earlier stages. In December 2025, Italy achieved a major milestone with the first qualification launch of the SAMP/T NG surface-to-air missile system, supported by Leonardo’s KRONOS Grand Mobile High Power Radar, demonstrating unprecedented land-based tracking and guidance performance. These advances are expected to accelerate Italy’s progress toward fully integrated, multi-domain missile defense operations.
