Ikinci Lists Air Defense and Space as Saudi Cooperation Priorities

Speaking at the Türkiye-Saudi Arabia Defense Industry Days in Istanbul, Ikinci said industrial ties should go beyond product sales to joint production and technology transfer.

The two-day meeting, held on Nov. 11-12 and organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), the SAHA Istanbul cluster and Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), brought together 72 Turkish and 30 Saudi companies, according to SAHA Istanbul.

Ikinci, who is also vice chairman of SAHA Istanbul, said Turkish defense products are in use in more than 180 countries.

Four Fields for Joint Work

He identified autonomous systems, integrated air and missile defense systems, rocket and missile propulsion technologies, and space systems as priority areas, GDH reported.

“We assess that the joint research and development work we will carry out in this field, and the engineering work as well, will create an opportunity for both countries to move very quickly in these areas and to obtain results,” Ikinci said, according to Anadolu Agency.

He said Türkiye’s engineering capacity and experience in serial production could support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 localization aims.

Roketsan Widens Existing Ties

Ikinci said Roketsan had already started partnerships with the Saudi National Company for Mechanical Systems (NCMS) and with SAMI, and that the aim was to extend that work to small and medium-sized firms and the supply chain.

“We currently see very serious political motivation and very serious support to take determined steps in every field, from joint production to technology transfer, and from developing our industrial capacity to new investments,” he said. “What falls to us is to turn this support into results on the ground with concrete steps.”

Ikinci said the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed in August, had opened the way for concrete projects. The pact’s text includes provisions on technology transfers and joint production.

He added that SAHA Istanbul now grouped more than 1,300 firms, which he called Europe’s largest technology cluster. Officials have also discussed possible Saudi investment in Türkiye’s Kaan fighter program.

Officials Back Localization Goal

Haluk Görgün, head of Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries, said Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 defense targets include producing at least 50% of required equipment at home.

Görgün said his agency had held 75 meetings with Saudi counterparts over three and a half years. He put Türkiye’s defense portfolio at more than 1,400 projects and about $120 billion, and said Ankara was ready to “take together every step we can develop and advance jointly.”

Bandar Al-Khorayef, Saudi minister of state and acting president of GAMI, said Riyadh wanted to draw on the experience of established Turkish defense firms. He said the kingdom’s defense localization rate had risen from 4% to 27%, with a 2030 target of 50%.