The Saudi Ministry of Defense advanced its strategic objectives by signing 28 pivotal contracts with leading local and international firms during the prestigious World Defense Show (WDS) in Riyadh, highlighting the Kingdom’s growing influence in the sector.
Khaled Al Biyari, the Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs, personally signed four major contracts with several industry giants. He finalized these deals with the chief executive officers of MBDA, Raytheon Saudi Arabia, Hanwha Aerospace, and the Italian firm Leonardo.
In addition to these high-level signings, Ibrahim bin Ahmed Alsuwaiyed, Deputy Minister for Procurement, finalized eight more critical military contracts. He met with executives from Saudi, French, Turkish, South Korean, and Italian companies to solidify these multi-national defense partnerships.
Enhancing National Combat Readiness
Furthermore, executive general directors from the Procurement and Armament Deputyship signed sixteen additional contracts with various defense industry representatives. These comprehensive agreements aim to strengthen the combat capabilities of the Saudi armed forces while significantly enhancing their operational efficiency.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that these deals ensure the sustainability of national defense systems and support local industry growth. Consequently, the military will receive advanced technological support while maintaining a high state of readiness across all various branches.
Importantly, these contracts directly align with Saudi Vision 2030, which targets localizing more than 50 percent of military equipment spending. The government intends to support domestic manufacturing and foster rapid technological development through these massive investments in the local economy.
By prioritizing local partnerships, the Ministry is creating a robust ecosystem for Saudi engineers and technicians to excel in defense. Therefore, the Kingdom continues to transform its defense sector into a sustainable engine for long-term national and economic prosperity.
