Agreement between Riyadh and Airbus to produce helicopters in Saudi Arabia

According to the report of the international group of Fars News Agency, the “Scopa Defense” company active in the field of military industries and affiliated to the Saudi government signed a contract with the French company Airbus today (Monday) to produce 100 military and civilian helicopters in Saudi Arabia.

According to the official news agency of Saudi Arabia (WAS), “Fouza Al-Aqeel”, the CEO of this company, said that this project will create employment for more than 8,500 people, and the total investment of the two companies over 20 years is more than 25 billion Saudi Riyals (equivalent to 6.6 billion dollars).

Claiming that this agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of West Asia, he added: “The first foundation stone of this project will be laid in February next year, and the first helicopters will be ready two years after the start of the project.”

This company is a subsidiary of “Ajlan and Brothers” holding and was established in line with the instructions of “Mohammed bin Salman” related to the vision of 2030. The purpose of this holding is to somehow localize the military industry and transfer the weapons production line to Saudi Arabia.

Marine, air and land systems and equipment, air defense systems, cyber security, information technology and war ammunition are also in the scope of this holding.

The Saudi government is trying to move the production line of many military equipments to the Saudi soil, in this regard, “Ahmed Al-Awhali”, the head of the Saudi Military Industries Organization, announced in December 2022 at the opening ceremony of the “Global Defense” arms exhibition in Riyadh that his country will 2030 will increase military expenses by 50% and Riyadh will cooperate with countries in the region and the world to achieve self-sufficiency in the defense industry.

In this regard, the Saudi Arabian Navy and the Lockheed Martin company are jointly promoting a project called “Toweeq” to build four warships in Saudi Arabia.

Ray Beasley, Vice President of Commercial Affairs of the Lockheed Martin Defense Industry Company, told the “Eqsat Al-Sharq” website in March that this company is committed to localize the manufacturing of military equipment in Saudi Arabia and billions of dollars have been invested in this field and more than This will also happen.

Also, on March 6, 2022 (March 17, 1400), the Saudi government announced on the sidelines of the first international defense exhibition in Riyadh that it had signed a contract with Lockheed Martin to manufacture parts of the Taad anti-missile system in Saudi Arabia.

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