Leonardo is ready to expand in the cybersecurity, space and drone sectors through M&A deals, group CEO Roberto Cingolani said today.

"We have due diligence underway and we are quite close to closing deals," Cingolani told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Milan.

"Right now there are somewhat more advanced processes that we hope to close shortly on these three areas," the CEO added.

On partnerships in the direction of a European defense space, Cingolani said that "it's a bit more complicated," stressing that it remains "useful also from a geopolitical point of view to create large alliances."

Leonardo's industrial plan for 2024-2028 aims to strengthen its core businesses-helicopters, electronics, and aircraft-while investing in digitization and artificial intelligence and exploiting opportunities in cybersecurity and space.

(Elvira Pollina, writing Matteo Negri, editing Francesca Piscioneri)