Istanbul, Turkey, 3rd July, 2024: His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Defense, alongside H.E. Professor Haluk Görgün, Secretary of Turkish Defence Industries, witnessed the signings of three memoranda of understanding by the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the National Defense & Security Champion, a PIF company. These agreements were signed with three leading Turkish defense companies specializing in aerospace and technology: Baykar Technology, Fergani Uzay, and ASELSAN. The agreements were signed by SAMI's CEO, Eng. Walid A. Abukhaled.

Under the agreement with the Baykar Company, SAMI will establish manufacturing capabilities and develop systems for Baykar's unmanned aerial vehicles within the Kingdom, as well as the joint development and transfer of technology and intellectual property to Saudi Arabia.

In cooperation with Fergani Space Company, SAMI will establish a Center of Excellence for the development of emerging technologies in the Kingdom to serve the global space sector.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed with ASELSAN Company, covers the exploration of opportunities for transferring, localizing, and developing advanced defense electronics technologies to enhance and build local capabilities in this field.

The CEO of SAMI, Engineer Walid A. Abukhaled, commented on the signing of these agreements, saying: 'We are honored and delighted by the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Minister of Defense, at the signing ceremony of these important agreements, which will enhance our capabilities and contribute to the continued development of the national defense industry. This, in turn, will help us achieve the company's strategic objectives, including the localization of 50% of defense spending, which is one of the key objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.' He added, 'These strategic agreements will contribute to increasing the gross domestic product through international cooperation and collaboration with local supply chains.'