Italy’s defense giant Leonardo is outlining an ambitious roadmap for its Michelangelo Dome, a digital air- and missile-defense architecture powered by artificial intelligence. The system could generate up to €21 billion in economic opportunities by 2035, according to CEO Roberto Cingolani.
Driving the news: Presenting the project roadmap, Cingolani described Leonardo’s estimates as “fairly conservative and reasonable.”
- The company expects €6 billion in opportunities by 2030, rising to €15 billion more by 2035.
How it works: The Michelangelo Dome is designed as an open digital defense architecture integrating sensors, platforms, and weapons systems.
- It relies heavily on AI-enabled coordination across multiple domains — from air defense to missile interception — linking technologies into a unified command environment.
The timeline: By the end of the year: Leonardo plans the first operational implementation, tied to an urgent program supporting Ukraine.
- “The first components of the Michelangelo Dome are already under construction and will be delivered to Ukraine by the end of the year. NATO trials are expected in 2027,” said Cingolani.
Zoom in: During the 2025 test, the system demonstrated the ability to neutralize a ballistic missile about 75 km from its target, highlighting its potential role in layered missile defense.
The big picture: Leonardo’s initiative reflects a broader shift in modern defense toward AI-enabled, network-centric architecturesthat integrate multiple sensors and interceptors.
- If scaled, the Michelangelo Dome could become a key pillar of Europe’s emerging air- and missile-defense ecosystem — and a significant industrial opportunity for Italy’s defense sector.
