Leonardo is set to design and supply four advanced radar systems for Italy’s Michelangelo Dome program, significantly enhancing the nation’s capability to detect, track, and counter long-range ballistic threats.
Under a contract awarded by Italy’s TELEDIFE, Leonardo will deliver both Ground-Based Radar and Mobile Long-Range Radar systems. The radars are built on fully digital AESA gallium nitride (GaN) technology, providing extended detection ranges, high operational efficiency, and real-time tracking performance. They are expected to counter ballistic threats with ranges of up to 3,000 kilometers (1,900 miles).
Leonardo stated that the radars will deliver precise targeting data to fire-control radars and other effectors, enabling a modular, multi-domain air and missile defense architecture.
The Michelangelo Dome system integrates advanced sensors with predictive algorithms to enable earlier detection of potential threats and optimize response timelines. Since its official unveiling in late November 2025, Italian defense stakeholders have achieved several key milestones in system integration and testing.
In December 2025, Italy conducted the first qualification launch of its SAMP/T NG surface-to-air missile system using Leonardo’s KRONOS Grand Mobile High Power radar sensor, successfully tracking and guiding the interceptor at unprecedented ranges during land-based trials.
These milestones are expected to drive sustained progress toward full sensor integration and enhanced multi-domain tracking capabilities across Italy’s national defense network.
