Baykar Tech has announced that Saudi Arabia has taken a significant step towards bolstering its domestic defence capabilities through a strategic agreement with the Turkish defence firm. The agreement, announced by state-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) on the messaging platform X (formerly Twitter), focuses on localising the manufacturing of drones within the kingdom. SAMI emphasized that the agreement with Baykar Tech will play a pivotal role in enhancing the national defence industry and strengthening local manufacturing capabilities. The move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader goal of achieving greater self-sufficiency in its defence sector.
This agreement comes on the heels of a historic defence contract between Saudi Arabia and Baykar Tech in July 2023, marking the largest-ever defence deal in Turkey’s history. Under that contract, Saudi Arabia committed to purchasing Turkish drones, further solidifying the growing partnership between the two countries in the defence sector.