Leonardo has announced the successful completion of the first qualification test of its newly unveiled Michelangelo Dome air defence system, achieved less than ten days after the system’s official launch.
The test integrated the high-power, mobile Kronos radar with the SAMP/T surface-to-air missile system. During the trial, the radar—based on advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology—successfully detected an aerial threat and guided an interceptor missile to engage it at a record range for the system.
According to Leonardo, the Kronos radar demonstrated performance superior to comparable European systems, highlighting its ability to track and manage complex and fast-evolving threats. The company described the Michelangelo Dome as a multi-domain defensive shield designed to counter a wide spectrum of modern challenges, ranging from hypersonic missiles to coordinated drone swarms.
Leonardo added that the system is progressing on schedule, with full operational readiness planned by 2028, positioning the Michelangelo Dome as a key element in next-generation European air and missile defence architectures.
