Italy to deploy Michelangelo air defense system in Ukraine for first combat test in 2026.

Italy’s Leonardo plans to test its Michelangelo multi-domain air and missile defense system in Ukraine under real combat conditions by the end of 2026, marking a major step in validating a next-generation European air defense architecture.

The system integrates sensors, interceptors, command networks, and space-based assets to counter advanced aerial threats, with the Ukraine deployment expected to provide critical operational data ahead of broader NATO trials scheduled for 2027.

Related news: Italy’s new Michelangelo air defence system completes first long-range missile interception test

The Michelangelo Dome system, first introduced in November 2025, is a multi-domain architecture integrating air, land, maritime, and space components into a unified defensive network to detect, track, and neutralize a wide spectrum of threats. (Picture source: Leonardo)

On March 12, 2026, Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani announced during the company’s industrial plan update that the first operational test of its Michelangelo integrated defense architecture will take place in Ukraine before the end of 2026, with initial components already under construction and delivery scheduled within the same timeframe. The test will occur in a real combat environment, preceding a sequence of NATO evaluations planned for 2027 that will expand the system’s validation against ballistic missile threats and integrated command-and-control scenarios. This test will place Ukraine as the first operator for a system still in development, with limited disclosure on the specific configuration to be delivered.

The Michelangelo Dome is structured as a multi-domain architecture integrating air defense, missile defense, cyber capabilities, and space-based surveillance into a unified network designed to operate across air, land, maritime, and orbital environments. Leonardo's new system connects sensors, interceptors, and command nodes into a distributed structure capable of detecting, tracking, and engaging threats across the full spectrum of aerial and missile threats, including ballistic and hypersonic systems, drone swarms, and saturation attacks. It is designed to incorporate radars (like the Kronos GMHP), air defense batteries (such as the SAMP/T NG), artillery units, and space-based sensors within a single coordinated network.

The architecture is built on an open framework allowing interoperability with existing national and allied systems, enabling integration with both legacy and next-generation assets. Its operational logic is based on continuous data fusion and automated coordination, allowing simultaneous engagement of multiple threats in high-intensity scenarios. The system is intended to protect both localized areas and large geographic regions, depending on the scale of deployment. The central enabling element is the MC5 module, which functions as a distributed command-and-control interface linking sensors and effectors across domains into a single operational network.

This module enables the transition from a one-to-one sensor-to-shooter model to a networked configuration in which any sensor can provide targeting data to any available effector, optimizing engagement based on position, timing, and capability. Within a defined defensive sector of 10-15 km referred to as a “dead zone,” the system can interconnect artillery units, radar systems, satellite inputs, and counter-unmanned systems to respond to low-altitude and high-density threats. The architecture is scalable, allowing expansion of coverage depending on the number of connected systems and the availability of command authority over software and electronics. The MC5 module also supports real-time synchronization and secure data exchange across nodes.

Its development is funded within Leonardo’s electronics investment program, supported by prior multi-billion euro investments in defense technologies. The 2027 trials will focus on ballistic missile defense and integrated command-and-control performance within a multi-layered defense structure. Additional demonstrations will include integrated air and missile defense scenarios and validation of system interoperability with allied networks. The program also includes plans for technology transfer to partner countries and adaptation of the MC5 module to integrate additional weapon systems beyond Leonardo’s own portfolio. By the end of 2030, the system is expected to reach full integration within NATO and European Union defense frameworks, including alignment with next-generation sensors and effectors.

A key component of the architecture is the Space Guardian constellation, which will provide persistent surveillance, tracking, and data relay capabilities from low Earth orbit. The constellation will consist of 20 satellites deployed in two phases between the end of 2027 and 2028, operating at an altitude of 520 km. The first deployment will include six synthetic aperture radar satellites, two very high-resolution optical satellites, and one communications satellite equipped with optical intersatellite links. Full operational capability is scheduled for 2029, followed by integration with other European and allied tracking systems starting in 2030. The constellation will interact with existing programs such as Copernicus, IRIDE, and COSMO-SkyMed, expanding the sensor layer available to the Michelangelo network.

These assets will support early warning, target tracking, and data transmission across the entire system. The space segment represents Leonardo’s first proprietary Earth observation capability. Leonardo projects that the Michelangelo program will generate €21 billion in business opportunities over the next decade, with €6 billion expected between 2026 and 2030 and €15 billion between 2031 and 2035. Interest has been recorded from more than 20 countries, as the commercial model includes both full system delivery and modular offerings, allowing customers to acquire standalone capabilities such as the MC5 software or integrated packages combining sensors, command systems, and interceptors. The system can also incorporate external weapon systems, including those produced by MBDA, in which Leonardo holds a 25 percent stake alongside Airbus and BAE Systems.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.