The US has signed a Strategic Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia, which includes the sale of F-35 fighters and 300 Abrams tanks to the Middle East ally. The deal was announced by President Donald Trump during his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who pledged to invest $600 billion in various US industries.
President Donald Trump announced plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in American defense policy in the Middle East. The planned sale comes on the eve of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the White House.
The United States is poised to approve a $3 billion agreement to sustain Saudi Arabia's aging F-15 fighter fleet. Following a request from its Gulf ally, the US State Department has approved a sustainment package for the Royal Saudi Air Force's F-15s.
The US State Department announced two large-scale military aid packages worth almost $15.7 billion for Israel and Saudi Arabia. The deals include significant orders of AH-64E Apache helicopters, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, and PAC-3 Patriot missile interceptors.
ARES Shipyard plans to launch ARES Naval in Saudi Arabia with two shipyards: one in Dammam and the other in Jeddah. The company aims to establish a stronger presence in the GCC region through co-production partnerships.
A senior executive at Turkish Aerospace says a decision on Saudi Arabia's participation in the KAAN fighter program is imminent. Mehmet Demiroglu cited robust demand for European travel as driving Delta Air Lines' expansion plans.
President Donald Trump has lashed out at Canada's aerospace industry over certification delays for US-made Gulfstream jets. The dispute highlights growing tensions between the two nations in the sector.
SCOPA Defense Industries, a Saudi Arabian firm, has relaunched its brand and set up a professional ERP system to cater to defense and security industries. The company aims to become one of the largest privately owned defense firms in the region by 2035.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems President David Alexander discussed potential deals with Saudi Arabia, including up to 200 CCAs and 130 MQ-9Bs. The program would include production localization in the Kingdom, which is seen as a key part of the deal.
AeroTime spoke with Saudia's Chief Commercial Officer Arved von zur Muehlen about the airline's transformation and Vision 2030 ambitions. With a young population driving demand for travel, Saudia is modernizing its operations and expanding its network to meet growing passenger numbers.
The World Defense Show (WDS) 2026 took place at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center, attracting 1,400 companies from 89 countries. Saudi Arabia aims to become a major aerospace industrial hub by 2030, with the percentage of localized work growing from 4% in 2018 to nearly 25% in 2024.
Saudi Arabia is expanding its aviation sector with plans for two additional airlines, bringing the total number of carriers to seven as part of its ambitious Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. Speaking at the Cityscape Global conference, Saudi Tourism Authority CEO Fahd Hamidaddin revealed the expansion plans, which complement existing carriers Saudia, Riyadh Air, flynas, and flyadeal.
Saudi Arabia has kicked off the Spears of Victory 2026 multinational military exercise at the Air Warfare Center in the Kingdom's Eastern Region. The Royal Saudi Air Force is leading the exercise, which runs from January 18 to February 5, 2026, and involves 15 countries, including Pakistan, France, Italy, Greece, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and the United Kingdom.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has contracted four C-27J maritime patrol aircraft from Leonardo, which will integrate a dedicated mission suite for detection and tracking. The acquisition comes after a $200 million torpedoes deal with WASS, and is expected to enhance the Royal Saudi Naval Forces' capabilities in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
SAMI has announced a transformation into a strategic group, launching two new entities: SAMI Land Company and SAMI Autonomous Systems. The new land entity will focus on producing vehicles for the land forces, while the autonomous systems company will develop capabilities across all platforms.
The Dubai Airshow brought together top defense contractors from around the world, with Russia and China stealing the spotlight. Breaking Defense provides comprehensive coverage of the airshow, including Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II, Su-57 stealth fighter, Wing Loong WL-X hunter-killer drone, Saab's GlobalEye jet, and UAE-based Calidus' B-250 trainer and light attack aircraft.
Riyadh Air has unveiled Riyadh Cargo as its freighter operations division, marking the beginning of belly-hold cargo flights across its wide-body aircraft fleet. According to AeroTime, the new service is a 'core pillar' of the airline's commercial operations, reflecting a deliberate approach to building a scalable and integrated cargo business.
Qatar Airways has announced plans to expand its services in Saudi Arabia with the introduction of new flights to Hail International Airport and increased frequencies at King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Khalid International Airport. The airline will operate three weekly flights to Hail, starting from January 5, 2026.
The World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia passed the halfway point on February 10, 2026, with exhibitors showcasing their latest military technology. Breaking Defense reports that Mercedes-Benz displayed its Zetros tank transporter, while Skyfall showcased its hex-copter Vampire drone.
The World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia entered its second day, with attendees exploring exhibits and participating in flight simulators. Breaking Defense captured photos of various displays, including Arsenal's helicopter simulator and Mac Jee's MAA-1B munition.
The World Defense Show 2026 has begun outside Riyadh, with dozens of defense firms from around the world participating. Breaking Defense reports that scores of defense firms are showing off their products, including Chinese drones and European missiles.
US President Donald Trump is expected to approve a deal allowing Saudi Arabia to acquire dozens of F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets despite Pentagon concerns. The proposal faces resistance inside the US government due to links with China and Israel's 'qualitative military edge'.
Lockheed Martin has announced plans to launch a command and control software factory in Saudi Arabia, as part of Riyadh's efforts to localize defense production. The facility will introduce Lockheed's advanced software development ecosystem to the Kingdom, enabling rapid development of sovereign software applications.
Lockheed Martin is partnering with ERAF to explore the development of a combat vehicle-mounted unmanned turret that can be produced in Saudi Arabia. The turret has counter-UAS and self-protection capabilities and features a modular design for mounting on different platforms.
Italian aerospace firm Leonardo will supply Saudi Arabia with four C-27J Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) starting in 2029. Deliveries are scheduled to begin on February 16, 2026.
Breaking Defense reports that the US may sell the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Saudi Arabia, sparking concerns in Israeli circles about the potential impact on its Qualitative Military Edge (QME). The White House has announced plans to sell the plane to Riyadh, despite Israel's long-standing requirement for a QME policy.
The third edition of World Defense show in Saudi Arabia saw an almost complete absence of Emirati defense firms, including EDGE Group and Tawazun, according to Breaking Defense. The move is attributed to deteriorating relations between the two Gulf countries, particularly over their conflicting stances on the conflict in Yemen.
Embraer has dropped its proposal for a final assembly line in Saudi Arabia, opting instead to pursue a similar facility in the UAE. This move comes after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Saudi Arabian Military Industries in 2023.
The World Defense Show will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring a diverse range of exhibitors including Saudi Arabian Military Industries, AIC Steel, China, Russia, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, L3Harris, and many others. The event is expected to include product demonstrations, announcements, and partnerships, with a focus on regional security and defense capabilities.
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.
BeOnd, the luxury carrier, is ramping up its expansion strategy with plans to launch a new subsidiary in Saudi Arabia. The move follows GACA's decision to award a national charter carrier tender to BeOnd.
Archer Aviation has teamed up with Saudi-based operators to launch electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) test flights in Saudi Arabia while also evaluating the overall ecosystem readiness. Archer signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Helicopter Company, Red Sea Global, and will combine to create a 'sandbox framework' to validate and accelerate next-generation Advanced Air Mobility testing.