Chinese, Saudi firms to jointly develop military drones
Saudi Arabia’s Advanced Communications and Electronics Systems (ACES) has signed an agreement with a Chinese defense firm to design and manufacture military drones in the kingdom.
The joint venture, called “Aerial Solutions,” was announced during the World Defense Show 2022, held from March 6 to 9 in Riyadh.
As part of the agreement, China Electronics Technology Group Corporation will establish a research and development center in Saudi Arabia focusing on unmanned aerial systems.
The firm will create a team to manufacture various drones, communication systems, flight-control systems, cameras, radars, and wireless detection systems.
The venture will also explore the development of all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, anti-drone solutions, and helicopter spare parts.
This is not the first time China and Saudi Arabia have collaborated on a defense project. In 2017, China Aerospace Science and Technology signed a partnership with a Saudi company to build a manufacturing facility in the kingdom for the CH drone series.