RIYADH: A number of agreements have been signed during the opening days of the World Defense Show in Riyadh this week to enhance the operational readiness of the Royal Saudi Air Force’s F110 jet engines.

GE Aerospace signed agreements with Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries, or GAMI, and the Middle East Propulsion Company.

With GAMI, GE Aerospace signed an industrial participation agreement to enhance F110 repair capabilities and strengthen maintenance, repair and overhaul — or MRO — skills.

A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the two entities to explore building a globally competitive industrial base and accelerating the Kingdom’s manufacturing roadmap in the aerospace sector.

GE Aerospace and the MEPC signed three agreements to ensure vital material support as well as repair and overhaul services for the engine fleet.

The two companies have worked together for more than a decade to support Saudi Arabia’s F110 fleet, which is the world’s largest outside of the US.

Nawaf Albawardi, deputy governor for the localization sector of GAMI, said in a statement that the agreement “will contribute to strengthening GAMI’s ongoing efforts to localize and develop the military industries sector.”

Mohammed Al-Nawkhani, managing director, MEPC, added: “These agreements represent the next phase of our strategic partnership with GE Aerospace and a major step forward in enhancing readiness for the RSAF F110 fleet.”

Salim Mousallam, vice president, defense & systems for the Middle East, Africa and Turkiye at GE Aerospace, added: “These agreements will significantly increase engine availability, streamline MRO processes and directly support the RSAF’s critical missions.”

Under the F110-129 Material Support Agreement, GE Aerospace will provide essential ENSIP Kits (F110-129 parts) to support MEPC in performing the necessary overhaul of RSAF F110-129 engines within the Kingdom.

GE Aerospace also signed a new F110-129 services agreement to extend critical repair and overhaul capabilities to support other F110 customers across the region.