RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s defense sector has been praised for its pace of innovation by many global executives who attended the World Defense Show.
The sector has acquired more than SR10 billion in business and deals last year, and has secured SR6 billion this year so far, the chairman of Saudi Arabian Military Industries revealed.
An executive from BAE Systems described the sector as "the hottest ecosystem" in the world at the moment.
Also speaking at the WDS, Munir El Desouki, president of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, argued that modern warfare has become a game of emerging technology.
During his address at the Defense and Technology Leadership Forum, he cited the example of a drone that crashed on the White House in 2015, which ultimately resulted in over 400 companies beginning their work on counter-drone technologies.
El Desouki also revealed KACST is currently working on harnessing start-ups and SMEs to integrate into the supply chain system.
He added that top scientists and researchers from all over the world are frequenting KACST to train, teach and further the research center’s work in driving the innovation ecosystem.
Faleh Al-Sulaiman, governor of the General Authority for Defense Development, said during the forum the authority will be playing its role to increase the 50 percent set target of localizing defense technology to a higher figure in the future.
