Italy Unveils Michelangelo Dome: Leonardo’s Next-Gen Multi-Layer Air Defense System

Leonardo Unveils Michelangelo Dome: Italy Launches a Next-Generation Multi-Layer Air Defense System

Italy’s leading defense company, Leonardo, on 27 November 2025 officially unveiled its groundbreaking Michelangelo Dome air-defense system — a next-generation, multi-domain protective shield designed to counter the evolving threats facing Europe. The system integrates advanced technologies to defend against missiles, drones, rocket barrages, hypersonic weapons, and cyber intrusions, making it one of the most comprehensive defense architectures ever produced in Italy.

During the launch event, Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani stated that Michelangelo Dome represents a major milestone in European security. According to him, the system combines cutting-edge automation, AI-powered command-and-control tools, advanced sensors, satellite data, and long-range radars to detect and neutralize threats across air, land, sea, and space. He further emphasized that the platform’s modular design allows it to operate independently or as part of larger NATO defense networks.

More than a missile interceptor, the Michelangelo Dome is a complete defensive ecosystem. It features interconnected surveillance systems, cyber-protection layers, AI-driven response mechanisms, and rapid-reaction interceptors capable of identifying, prioritizing, and addressing multiple incoming threats simultaneously. Leonardo claims the system can manage swarm-drone attacks and emerging hypersonic challenges — two of the most pressing concerns for European defense planners.

Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto highlighted that modern warfare has become multidimensional, with enemies employing increasingly complex strategies. He said that Europe must rely on integrated defense systems capable of responding to all-direction threats, adding that Michelangelo Dome will significantly strengthen Italy’s preparedness for future conflicts.

This development comes at a time when Europe faces rising anxieties over Russia’s military activities, expanding drone warfare, missile modernization, and hypersonic technology. Security experts note that multi-layered systems like the Michelangelo Dome will play a decisive role in future deterrence frameworks, given the shift of modern conflict toward simultaneous attacks from multiple domains.

According to Leonardo, partial deployment of the system will begin in 2026, with full operational capability expected by 2028. Once active, the system is expected to bolster not only Italy’s national defense but also Europe’s collective security infrastructure. Analysts say it will enhance border protection, safeguard critical civilian infrastructure, and reinforce defense cooperation among NATO allies.

Industry specialists are calling the Michelangelo Dome a “game-changer”, predicting it will guide Europe’s transition toward AI-driven, cyber-resilient, multi-domain protection systems. Its unveiling marks a significant achievement for Italy’s defense industrial base and highlights the continent’s accelerating shift toward modern, integrated security ecosystems.