Two separate export and cooperation agreements were signed between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. Following the deal, Saudi Arabian Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman made a statement on his social media account. He wrote, “With the support of HRH, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, I signed today a defence cooperation plan with HE Yaşar Güler, the Turkish National Defence Minister, in line with our two friendly countries’ military and defence cooperation efforts. Additionally, two acquisition contracts were signed between the Saudi Defence Ministry and Baykar, under which the Saudi Defence Ministry will acquire drones to enhance the readiness of the Kingdom’s armed forces and bolster its defence and manufacturing capabilities.” Minister Khalid did not provide detailed information about the agreement.
Baykar later distributed a press release and stated that an Akıncı UCAV export and cooperation agreement was signed. Baykar said, “The Bayraktar Akıncı UCAVs will enter the inventory of the Saudi Arabian Army. Within the scope of the agreement, Baykar will also provide training, technical support and logistics services.”
According to the agreement, Akıncı UCAVs will serve in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Air and Naval Forces Command inventory. With the comprehensive agreement, cooperation will be made on technology transfer and joint production to advance the two countries’ high technology development capability in the coming period.
The signing ceremony was held after the meetings of the delegations of the two countries in Jeddah. The agreement was signed in the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The cooperation agreement between Baykar and the Ministry of Defence of Saudi Arabia was signed by Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar and Saudi Arabian Deputy Minister of Defence Halid Bin Hüseyin El Bayari.
Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar evaluated the export contract on social media as “The biggest defence and aviation export contract in the history of the Republic of Turkiye”. Making a written statement, Haluk Bayraktar later said, “The agreement we signed will increase our capabilities in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles technology and will contribute to the development of Saudi Arabia’s high technology development capability. This cooperation aims to strengthen the ties between our countries and contribute to regional and global peace.”
Regarding Turkiye's previous export agreements, the deal must be a multi-billion dollar one.
