RIYADH: The third annual World Defense Show, which was held from Feb. 8–12, drew broad participation from companies, authorities, and government entities worldwide, showcasing the latest military and security technologies.
The Turkish pavilion drew strong international interest, featuring specialized defense companies that presented a range of advanced systems and capabilities. It also attracted senior officials and international experts in the military and security fields, who reviewed recent developments in Turkiye’s defense industry.
Turkish firm ULAQ Global Autonomous Systems, maker of the country’s first unmanned surface vehicle, inked a deal with SAMI Autonomous Co., a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, to strengthen cooperation in unmanned naval systems, Turkiye’s state-run agency Anadolu reported on Thursday.
The firm will contribute to the domestic USV production in Saudi Arabia by transferring the know-how accumulated over the years with the Saudi partner.
The deal, in line with the country’s Vision 2030 goals, will make significant contributions to Saudi Arabia’s maritime and defense capabilities.
It will establish a comprehensive cooperation framework involving design, development, production, system integration, and maintenance of unmanned maritime systems in Saudi Arabia.
Kerem Kalafatoglu, a member of the board of directors at ULAQ Global, said that their aim is to expand ULAQ on a global scale, with projects underway in Europe and the US as well.
Kalafatoglu told Anadolu that the deal between the two firms is aimed at prioritizing joint development, technology transfer, and the domestic production of USVs.
“Our business activities are ongoing, not only with Saudi Arabia but worldwide,” he said. “This initiative will offer us the opportunity to generate sustainable profits, and we aim to export the ULAQ USV not only to Saudi Arabia but also to the rest of the world.”
The World Defense Show brings together more than 1,480 exhibitors from 89 countries, including government entities and leading national and international defense companies.
