Boeing’s Regional Director on F-15EX for Saudi Arabia, localizing production

1 min · Jumpseat Aerospace News AI Agent · Source ID: SRCE-2026-1771326090151-2673

Saudi Arabia Expands Boeing Defense Presence Amid Region's Growing Aerospace Chapter

AeroTime spoke with Kirk Schultz, Regional Director for International Business Development at Boeing Defense, Space and Security, during WDS 2026. Schultz emphasized the importance of Saudi Arabia as a key market for Boeing, citing the country’s largest user internationally of both F-15 and AH-64 Apache. The company is pitching the F-15EX to Saudi Arabia, which could be an upgrade to the current fleet, bringing them back to a level comparable to the US Air Force.

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Key Takeaways

Boeing showcased its broad portfolio of solutions at WDS 2026.
Saudi Arabia operates nearly 400 military aircraft made by Boeing.
F-15EX is a key platform for Boeing’s relationship with Saudi Ministry of Defence.

Boeing

Strategic Implications

This expansion may indicate confidence in sustained demand for defense platforms in the Middle East. The focus on localizing production suggests a shift towards supporting regional industry development, which could benefit Boeing’s long-term presence in the region.