RIYADH: Technology supporting vertical take-off and landing aircraft and unmanned planes will be developed in Saudi Arabia thanks to a new agreement between the Kingdom’s military and aviation authorities.
The General Authority for Military Industries has signed a memorandum of understanding with the General Authority of Civil Aviation to develop advanced technologies and boost industrial capabilities in these areas.
The agreement focuses on collaboration with the Advanced Air Mobility project, which aims to develop systems to enable advanced flight modes in the Kingdom, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The MoU was signed at GAMI’s headquarters in Riyadh by the authority’s governor, Ahmed Al-Ohali, and Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, president of GACA.
The agreement includes exchanging scientific and practical expertise between the two parties, emphasizing the development of working groups for related activities, conducting workshops, providing training, and sharing knowledge.
The partnership also covers traffic procedures for uncrewed airliners.
The collaboration aims to expand opportunities for maintenance and repair service projects to support the aviation sector, contributing to the long-term sustainability and growth of the industry.
The MoU is part of the GAMI’s ongoing efforts to regulate and support the localization and advancement of the military industries sector, with a particular focus on aerial mobility.
The move also underscores the body’s collaborative approach, working closely with supportive government entities to foster cooperation and exchange expertise, all in line with the broader goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The agreement also aims to support the strategic goals of the aviation sector, which are spearheaded by GACA.
These objectives focus on building partnerships to provide safe, sustainable, and efficient transportation solutions within a regulatory framework that follows international best practices.
GACA is working with leading local and global manufacturers to establish a strong regulatory framework that ensures the safe and efficient operation of vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, as well as the implementation of advanced air mobility technologies.
In September, Al-Duailej said during the International Civil Aviation Organization Advanced Air Mobility Symposium that was held in Montreal, Canada, that cutting-edge aviation is on track to transform the transportation, tourism, and health care systems in Saudi Arabia and across the world,
He underlined that the Kingdom is committed to a global leadership role in the field.
In 2023, the industry’s market value reached $9.7 billion, with projections forecasting a climb to $50 billion by 2032.
This corresponds with over 200 cities in 57 countries planning to implement this technology, necessitating a unified global approach in regulation, technology, and investment.
