Leonardo, the Italian defense and aerospace company, has introduced the “Michelangelo Dome,” an AI-powered, multi-layered air defense system aimed at protecting cities and critical infrastructure across Europe. This ambitious project is designed to detect and neutralize emerging threats from missiles, drones, and hypersonic weapons, with a full operational capability targeted by 2028. The system integrates sensors and defense assets from land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains into a unified architecture that enhances sovereign defense autonomy across European nations
The Michelangelo Dome reflects Leonardo’s broader strategic goal to innovate defense technologies by leveraging artificial intelligence and open architecture frameworks. CEO Roberto Cingolani emphasized that the system’s modular design allows it to operate alongside other national and NATO defense systems seamlessly. This interoperable approach is critical in a world where threats are rapidly evolving, making advanced coordination and international cooperation indispensable for cost-effective defense.
2025 has seen a significant surge in European defense stock valuations amid heightened geopolitical tensions and increased defense spending. Leonardo’s shares have risen about 77% since January, bolstered by similar gains across other defense primes such as the UK’s BAE Systems, Germany’s Rheinmetall, and France’s Thales. This rally underscores the market’s confidence in growth prospects driven by extensive military modernization and technology development initiatives in Europe.
The Michelangelo Dome aims to deliver comprehensive coverage, combining radar, satellite, naval, and cyber defense capabilities into a singular operational system. Its use of predictive AI algorithms enables anticipatory responses to hostile activities, streamlining threat detection and engagement decisions. This multi-domain defense plasticity targets not only traditional ballistic threats but also expanding risks like drone swarms and cyber intrusions, representing a holistic approach to modern security challenges.
Leonardo’s CEO highlighted that the Michelangelo Dome exemplifies the company’s commitment to safeguarding critical national and European infrastructure by fusing cutting-edge technology with robust industrial capacity. The system is expected to be a cornerstone in European defense, strengthening NATO allies’ shared capabilities and resilience amid uncertainties posed by global conflicts and hybrid warfare tactics.
The unveiling of the Michelangelo Dome aligns with broader efforts by European defense leaders to build a “digital battlefield,” integrating data exchange protocols and joint operational frameworks over the next decade. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury noted that this extensive interoperability would require years of collaborative development, underscoring the long-term nature of Europe’s defense sovereignty ambitions and technological harmonization.
Leonardo’s advances illustrate a new phase of Europe’s defense technology awakening, where AI, extended computing, and autonomous systems converge to create dynamic, innovation-driven security ecosystems. The Michelangelo Dome is positioned as a crucial defense innovation responding to current and foreseeable threats, underlining a shift from legacy systems to forward-looking platforms critical for strategic autonomy in an increasingly contested global environment.
