Saudi Arabia signed a strategic agreement with Turkish defense firm Baykar Tech to localize the manufacturing of drones in the kingdom, state-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) posted on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday.
The agreement “will enhance SAMI’s role in supporting the national defense industry and strengthening our local capabilities,” SAMI said.
In July, Saudi Arabia agreed to buy Turkish drones from Baykar in the biggest defense contract in Türkiye’s history.
Ankara has launched a diplomatic effort to repair ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in recent years.
Drone manufacturer Baykar signed the largest defense deal in Turkish history with Saudi Arabia to sell combat drone Akıncı to the Gulf country.
According to the defense company, Akıncı will enter the Saudi army’s inventory. The firm will provide technical, logistic, and educational services to the army.
Cooperation will be made on technology transfer and joint production between the two countries in the upcoming period.
Haluk Bayraktar, the general manager of Baykar, said the cooperation aims not only to strengthen the ties between the two countries but also to contribute to regional and global peace.
Akıncı can carry various payloads as it is equipped with dual artificial intelligence avionics.
It is able to conduct operations that are performed with fighter jets, carrying electronic support systems, dual satellite communication systems, air-to-air radar, collision avoidance radar, and synthetic aperture radar.
It can be used in air-to-ground and air-to-air attack missions as well.