The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Italian company “Leonardo” signed a memorandum of understanding to explore joint projects in the defense and space sectors.
This agreement, announced during the World Defense Expo, opens the way for cooperation in multiple areas, including:
- Space: Partnership in space exploration and development initiatives.
- Aircraft Maintenance: Establishing facilities for repair and maintenance of aircraft structures within the Kingdom.
- Defense systems: Localization of production of electronic warfare systems and radar technology.
- Helicopter assembly: Establishing assembly lines for helicopters within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- Advanced Technologies: Explore collaboration in cutting-edge areas such as unmanned systems, integrated sensors, and digital technologies.
This memorandum of understanding serves as a platform for joint technology development, and to benefit from Leonardo’s expertise and the growing technology sector in the Kingdom.
Lorenzo Mariani, General Manager of Leonardo, highlights the importance of this agreement: “It allows us to comprehensively evaluate new cooperation opportunities and benefit from more than 50 years of Leonardo’s presence and strong cooperation in the Kingdom.”
Leonardo has had a long history of providing the Kingdom with advanced technology in various sectors, including passenger transportation, energy, defense, and cybersecurity. The new memorandum of understanding reinforces its commitment to expanding its presence in the region and enhancing local production and research and development capabilities.
This cooperation is in line with Saudi Vision 2030, a strategic plan aimed at diversifying the economy, creating job opportunities, and advancing technology.
By working together, Leonardo and the Kingdom can contribute to achieving these goals and foster a strong local aerospace and defense industry.