Saudi Arabian Military Industries Company (SAMI) and Turkish aircraft manufacturer Baykar have entered into an agreement that involves the localization of production for Bayraktar Akinci combat drones within the Kingdom. SAMI made this announcement on its social media page, X (formerly known as Twitter).
"We are delighted to announce the conclusion of a significant strategic agreement with Baykar Turkey for the localization of Bayraktar Akinci drones and their components' production within Saudi Arabia. This accord will further enhance our contribution to the national defense industry and bolster our operational capacities," the statement from the company read.
On July 17, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan embarked on a three-day tour of Saudi Arabia, marking a significant diplomatic move in the Persian Gulf region. Subsequent to this visit, both Riyadh and Ankara jointly unveiled an action plan designed to facilitate the execution of projects within the defense industry, research, and technology sectors. Furthermore, the Saudi Arabian defense ministry sealed two pivotal agreements with Baykar. Notably, Baykar subsequently confirmed that the Saudi air force and navy will integrate Bayraktar Akinci drones into their operational capabilities.
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Photo: CB.alotaby/Creative Commons 4.0
Based on materials from TASS