Leonardo, the Italian defence group, posted a '2025 result that was above its financial targets. It also saw a significant improvement in its debt and an increase in key indicators.

New orders increased 14.5% on an annual basis to 23.8 billion euros ($28.09billion), boosted by a large?contract in aeronautics and above the forecasted range of 22.25-22.75billion euros.

The core profit increased by 18% between 2024 and 1.75 billion euros. This was higher than the 1.66 billion euro expected, due to both higher volumes as well as increased profitability.

The group's debt was reduced by 44% at the end 2025 to 1 billion?euros, from 1.8 billion euro the previous year. This is mainly due to the sale of the UAS undersea business to Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri early in 2025.

"We exceeded challenging guidance which was already upgraded in the past year. This performance marks the end of the value-adding path that was launched three years ago, said Chief Executive?Roberto Cingolani in a press release.

(source: Reuters)