Italian defence and aerospace group Leonardo said on Wednesday it had agreed to buy Sweden-based cybersecurity firm Axiomatics AB, bolstering its “zero trust” product line as Europe races to secure critical networks.
The acquisition adds a key capability to Leonardo’s Global Cybersecurity Platform by enhancing its offerings in zero-trust architecture, an approach where no user or system is automatically trusted and all access must be continuously verified. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Stockholm, Axiomatics is a European provider of dynamic access control solutions based on the Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) model.
The company also operates in North America and serves government agencies, defence institutions, and critical infrastructure operators.
Leonardo said the deal is part of a broader expansion in the Nordic region.
In recent months, the group entered a partnership with Danish firm Arbit, acquired a 24.55% stake in Finnish cybersecurity company SSH Communications Security, and invested in Swedish startup CanaryBit, which focuses on confidential computing and AI security.
The acquisition of Axiomatics marks the third cybersecurity-related deal in a matter of months and aligns with Leonardo’s industrial plan to grow its international footprint in trusted cybersecurity technologies.
This operation consolidates Leonardo’s role as a leading player in cybersecurity and complements its product portfolio with a strategic capability in authorisation and data security, the company said in a statement.
Completion of the transaction, which involves a 100% stake in Axiomatics, is subject to regulatory approvals, including clearance from Swedish authorities overseeing foreign direct investment in the defence sector.
Leonardo, which was advised by PwC on the deal, said integrating Axiomatics’ technology with its sales and service network would support its goal of delivering advanced cybersecurity solutions to customers across Europe, the United States, and beyond.